The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration is blaming low oxygen for the death of a coal miner at a west Alabama mine.

The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration says the miner and a partner encountered an area of apparent low oxygen during a weekly inspection about
2 a.m. Tuesday at the Jim Walters Number Seven Mine near Brookwood.

The second miner and four rescuers were hospitalized as well.

The federal agency's spokeswoman, Amy Louviere, says the cause of low oxygen hasn't been determined.

However, MSHA says the men were conducting a weekly examination of a system used to control air flow and dilute methane and other gases and dust.

MSHA, Alabama and the United Mine Workers are investigating.