Torrent of water bursts from old mine above Lynch, inundating Main Street

Water burst from a mine on the mountain above Lynch early Friday, sending a muddy torrent for about a mile down Main Street of the historic Harlan County coal town, according to city Clerk Erica Eldridge.

Water got into the basements of some homes, but there were no reports of significant damage, Eldridge said.

Water was running several inches deep down Main Street several hours after the overflow started, which was thought to be sometime between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m., Eldridge said.

"It's an unreal amount of water that's coming out of there," she said.

Eldridge said inspectors confirmed that the water flowed from a long-abandoned mine on a hillside above town. There has been significant rain, snow and ice in the area recently.

There is a drain from the mine that passed under Main Street and into Looney Creek, Eldridge said. The flash flood might have damaged houses if not for the drain, Eldridge said.

However, debris carried down the hill by the tide of water clogged the drain under the street, buckling the pavement.

The flood washed mud, rocks and trees into town, making Main Street impassable.

People were able to take an alternative route around the blocked area to get to their homes, Eldridge said.

Workers used equipment to push water away from homes and clear debris, and they cut a ditch to divert water.

They also were working to clear the drain line, Eldridge said.

"It's looking like it's going to be a long night," she said.

A subsidiary of U.S. Steel built Lynch in 1917 to tap the rich seams of coal around town. It was the biggest coal camp in the world, according to the Kentucky Encyclopedia. In the 1950s, U.S. Steel sold the town to residents, the encyclopedia said.

Elsewhere in Eastern Kentucky, state emergency officials said minor to moderate flooding had occurred along some rivers because heavy rains and snowmelt before the latest round of wintry weather.

In Harlan County, flooding from the Cumberland River damaged a man's long-running operation of delivering toys to thousands of children each Christmas season.

Jim "Muggins" Bennett said floodwater seeped into sheds where he stores toys for the next Christmas delivery. He said hundreds of toys were ruined by flooding this week.

Bennett and his wife have delivered toys and food boxes for more than 30 years, providing about 3,000 toys and 600 food boxes each holiday season.

The Bennetts rely on donations, but they also buy some of the toys.

Flooding of some roads also remained a problem Friday in Estill and Powell counties, particularly in the Clay City area, according to the state Highway Department. The Kentucky River was expected to crest at Ravenna on Friday afternoon, more than 10 feet above flood stage.

This story was originally published March 6, 2015 at 12:04 PM with the headline "Torrent of water bursts from old mine above Lynch, inundating Main Street."