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Workers Suffer Burns In East Texas Mine Accident

THERMO, Texas (AP) - Six workers at an idle coal mine in East Texas have suffered burns from falling debris amid preparations to resume operations this fall.

Owner Luminant says five employees were in stable condition Thursday at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas.

The sixth worker injured in Wednesday's accident in Thermo, 80 miles northeast of Dallas, was treated and released from a hospital in Sulphur Springs.

Hopkins County Fire Department Chief Kevin Yates says hot ash and burning embers fell on the workers.

Luminant says the unit has been inactive for months. The employees were near an out-of-service lignite storage silo where they unexpectedly came in contact with "hot debris." The workers sustained hand and leg burns.

The accident has been reported to federal safety officials.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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