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19 November 2010 Last updated at 13:08 Share this pageFacebookTwitterShareEmailPrintNew Zealand miners missing after explosionMinisters said they would put whatever resources were needed into the rescueTwenty-seven miners are missing after an explosion at a remote coal mine on New Zealand's South Island.The mayor of Greymouth, 46km (29 miles) south-west of the Pike River mine, said the situation was "pretty serious" but that rescuers were on hand. However, concerns about the possibility of another explosion have delayed attempts to enter the mineshaft.Mayor of Grey District Tony Kokshoorn: "At the moment we cannot contact the miners"There has so far been no contact with the missing miners, whose friends and relatives have gathered at the scene.Earlier, two workers walked out of the mine with moderate injuries.'Charred trees'The explosion at the Pike River mine is believed to have happened at around 1530 local time (0230 GMT).Police said an electrician had gone into the mine at 1550 to investigate a power failure and 1,500m (4,920ft) into the shaft he discovered the driver of a loader who had been blown off his machine. He then raised the alarm.They and one other miner later emerged safely from the mine and told officials that three others were also making their way to the surface. However, there has been no contact yet with the second group of miners.The operator of the mine, Pike River Coal, said that 27 workers remained unaccounted for - 15 of its staff and 12 local contractors.Its chief executive, Peter Whittall, also denied that a body had been found."I've not had any reports of that at all," he said. "We've had two miners who've walked out of the mine and they're currently being spoken to and treated on the surface. We've had no communication with anyone else underground at this stage."The two miners who emerged earlier had moderate injuries, Mr Whittall said. They are being treated at the hospital in Greymouth.Mining experts said it could have been a methane gas explosion, a coal dust explosion, or a combination of both.A TVNZ cameraman who flew over the scene said it looked like there had been a massive blast. There were charred trees, smoke rising over the area, and a cabin had been blown away, he said.'Worrying time'Specialist mine rescue crews, ambulances and helicopters rushed to the mine as soon as the blast was reported.However, the helicopters were later sent back to their bases, when it became apparent that the rescue effort might take days.Police spokeswoman Barbara Dunn said rescuers were still assessing the safety conditions inside the mine, and making sure the ventilation system was functioning as there was a potential for a build-up of gas.Until that happened, it was unsafe for rescuers to enter the mine, she added.The power outage has is believed to be contributing to the ventilation problems, with electricity needed to pump in fresh air."They're itching to get in there and start looking for other people and a bit frustrated at having to stand and wait," Ms Dunn told the Stuff news website.Mr Whittall said every worker at Pike River carried a "safety rescue device at all times including a breathing apparatus with oxygen"."The men are between 2 and 2.5km inside, but because the mine drills into the side of the mountain they are probably only 120m below the surface," he said."The issue for the rescue team will be to ensure that the ventilation underground is adequate for them to go in and find the men."Mr Whittall added that the men might not be trapped, because they were trained to seek a place of safety and await rescue.Prime Minister John Key said the government would put whatever resources were needed into the operation, and stood ready to support the miners' families."Our hearts and thoughts go out to them at this time. It will be a very worrying time for them," he said.'Slow recovery'Greymouth's Mayor, Tony Kokshoorn, told the BBC that the friends and relatives of the missing miners were "hanging on to hope"."The rescue crews are doing a magnificent job. They are well trained for this and are doing everything they can. But this is going to be a very slow recovery," he said."Everybody knows what they are doing, but it's just a patience game. We've got support people everywhere. We've got families starting to arrive at the scene. We're just consoling them at the moment. We're setting up places for them to go."We're all hoping that everything will turn out all right, but it's looking pretty serious at the moment," Mr Kokshoorn added.The Pike River mine, which employs some 150 people, has been operational since 2008 and runs deep under the Paparoa Ranges on the rugged western coast of South Island.It accesses the Brunner coal seam via a 2.3km (1.4-mile) tunnel under the mountains, which then branches out into sub-areas.Pike River is on the opposite side of the Paparoa Ranges from the former Strongman mine, where an explosion killed 19 miners in 1967.AnalysisNeil BowdlerScience reporter, BBC NewsThe last mining disaster to occur in New Zealand was back in 1967 at the Strongman mine, close to the mine involved in this latest accident.Then, a gas explosion killed 19 miners. Officials say better safety standards and more opencast mining have reduced fatalities, although Pike River is one of several functioning underground pits.Elsewhere, sadly, deaths are still measured in the thousands.Last year in China, which mines almost half the world's coal, a total of 2,631 miners were killed - about seven a day. But even these terrible figures are an improvement - back in 2002, the death toll almost reached 7,000.Deaths in Chinese mines make up some 70% of the global total, but other states also have poor records.In 2008, 201 people were killed in India's coal mines and 64 in Russia's, according to figures collated by the BBC. In the same year in the United States, 53 miners were killed, 35 in Colombia and 30 in Poland.These deaths and the latest incident are a reminder that coal mining is highly dangerous. The walls and roof of tunnels can fail, and there is the danger of explosions caused by gases such as methane or hydrogen sulphide.Many of these dangers can be reduced by adequate bracing of the mine, and gas drainage and monitoring equipment.New Zealand mine disasters1879: Probable gas explosion kills 34 men and boys at Kaitangata mine1896: Suspected gas explosion kills 65 men at Brunner mine, near Greymouth1914: Gas explosion kills 43 men at Ralph's mine in Huntly1926: Explosion kills nine men at Dobson mine, near Greymouth1939: Carbon monoxide asphyxiates 11 men at Glen Afton mine in Huntly1967: Gas explosion kills 19 miners at Strongman mine, near Greymouth
I agree.......these people were hanging onto a "Miracle" that their family members somehow escaped this massive first explosion....the air even then was not liveable..not a good reason to cause more deaths in a rescue attempt...We just have to pray for these poor families at this difficult time....2 are from my country, Australia. :cry: :cry: :cry:
