Recovery of W. Virginia mine bodies begins

Mine crews have started the solemn task of bringing the victims of Monday's coal mine explosion in West Virginia to the surface.

West Virginia Medical Examiner's spokesman John Law says several bodies were received Saturday.

He said he did not know when the remaining victims would be transported from the Upper Big Branch mine, owned by Massey Energy, to Charleston, W.Va. Seven bodies had already been removed soon after the blast, which killed 29 workers and injured two. One miner is still in hospital.

The catastrophe is the worst U.S. coal mining disaster in 40 years.

Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration spokeswoman Amy Louviere says the investigation into the cause of the blast started Saturday with the collection of material from the mine. A team of investigators will arrive in West Virginia on Monday, she added.

President Barack Obama is awaiting a report on the mine, which has recorded a long list of safety violations, and Congress is planning hearings.

"All Americans deserve to work in a place that is safe, and we must take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that all our miners are as safe as possible so that a disaster like this doesn't happen again," Obama said.