On May 6, 1968, at the Saxsewell No. 8 mine in Nicholas County, a mining machine accidentally broke into an unmapped, flooded mine, causing water to rush in. Four miners drowned, and 21 were trapped.

Fifteen trapped miners were closer to the surface and stayed in contact with rescuers. Six others were deep inside the mine with no contact. After five days, the first group was rescued. Ten days after the flood, the second group was found alive—an event called the "Miracle at Hominy Falls." After the accident, new laws were passed to ensure better preservation of mine maps to prevent similar disasters.