Two workers die after being buried in coal pile at Colorado power plant

PUEBLO, Colo. — Two workers were killed Thursday after they were buried under a “landslide” of coal at a Colorado power plant, authorities said.

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The incident occurred at the Comanche Power Plant in Pueblo, KOAA-TV reported. Dispatchers received a 911 call at about 8:40 a.m. MDT about workers trapped in a coal pile, the television station reported.

The workers were employed by Savage Services, a contractor for Xcel Energy, according to KOAA. Xcel spokesperson Lacey Nygard told The Associated Press that Savage is a Salt Lake City-based firm contracted by Xcel to operate and maintain the coal yard at Comanche and at other Xcel coal plants.

According to the Pueblo Fire Department, the two workers were trapped when the incline of the pile collapsed underneath them, KXRM-TV reported.

“Our thoughts are with the employees of Savage who were involved in an incident at the coal facilities at the Comanche plant today and their families,” Xcel said in a statement. “We are working with Savage and Pueblo County Sheriff’s Department to understand what happened.”

In April, Pueblo County Commissioners unanimously approved an agreement with Xcel Energy to close the Comanche 3 power plant in 2031, KOAA reported.

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