Gov. Joe Manchin is offering the state's mine rescue expertise to the Chilean government.
Manchin's office says the governor has asked the state Officer of Miners' Health Safety and Training and the Department of Health and Human Resources to determine if the state can offer any assistance.
The governor's office is working through the U.S. State Department on the offer.
West Virginia is the second-largest coal producing state in the nation, and it imposed new mine safety and rescue requirements after 12 miners died following a 2006 explosion at the Sago Mine. Earlier this year, 29 miners died in an explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine.
Manchin say mining communities share a bond, and the world came to West Virginia's aid during Sago and Upper Big Branch.
