The governor of West Virginia has asked that coal mines in the state stop production until inspectors can check safety conditions.
Joe Manchin's request came after two miners were killed in separate coal mining accidents Wednesday, the latest in a string of fatal mining accidents.
Safety inspections are part of emergency rules enacted last week. The legislation was prompted by widely-publicized mine disasters last month, including the deaths of 12 miners in West Virginia's Sago mine.
The governor has told state mine regulators to speed up their inspection schedule to review all mines immediately.