Last bodies recovered from West Virginia coal mine

Naoma, West Virginia (CNN) -- The last of the bodies of 29 men killed in a coal mine explosion were removed from the mine early Tuesday, officials said.Authorities redirected airflow in the mine to decrease methane levels that had impeded recovery efforts on Sunday, said Jama Jarrett, spokeswoman for the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training.

The bodies of seven victims were recovered shortly after the explosion last week, and 13 bodies were removed Sunday.Bodies of the remaining victims were removed overnight, Jarrett said Tuesday morning.

With the bodies retrieved, a state and federal investigation can now begin to fully study conditions inside the Upper Big Branch South Mine.On Monday, U.S. Attorney Charles T. Miller announced that federal prosecutors were "ready, willing and able" to pursue an investigation into the disaster.

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