Close on the heels of the ordeal of 33 Chilean miners trapped in an underground copper mine, yet another tragedy has struck the mining industry. 29 men are trapped down the Pike River coal mine in New Zealand. There has been no contact with the miners since an explosion ripped through the Pike River colliery. Naturally occurring methane gas is thought to have caused the coal mine explosion. High levels of gas have been detected near mine ventilation shafts.
Authorities say it is possible that the miners have survived the blast and are sheltering in an area where the air is cleaner. The trapped men range in age from 17 to 62 and include two Britons, two Australians and a South African. Two men escaped from the mine after the blast with moderate injuries.
Drilling of a 15 cm-diameter (six inch-diameter) shaft on a steep hillside above the mine had been underway since Sunday night, and is now believed to have reached two-thirds of the estimated 162 meter depth to the main mine shaft. The drilling of a 162m-deep bore hole will also continue today. Once specialists reach the seam, at around 150m, they will switch to a diamond-tipped drill bit to prevent igniting sparks, which could set off another devastating explosion.
A range of hi-tech gadgets have given fresh hope, a specially-adapted NZ Defence Force robot was sent into the mine, which is full of toxic fumes, to see if there are any signs of the men who have been entombed since Friday. Once the drill breaks through into the mine, rescuers will look at lowering in another camera.
The robot will be sent into the mine with a camera attached, it will be able to detect levels of dangerous methane and carbon dioxide gases which have flooded the colliery. It will be sent 2km deep into the horizontally-dug mine to where the men are believed to be.
Defence helicopters are on standby with night vision equipment should the mission stretch into darkness. And a path is being cut out of the rugged mountainside to cut down on helicopter time bringing gas samples back and forth. Check on gas samples is being performed every 30 minutes.
The specialists are also looking at using seismic gear to listen for any signs of life below ground.
Pike River chief executive Peter Whittall said the drilling was going ''very, very well.'' As of 7am they had reached 100m, he said.
Putting laser imaging equipment and cameras down the hole - around 15cm in diameter - will allow the team to gather ''a vast amount'' of new data, he said. ''It will create a proper image of what's down there'' he added.
He also revealed there is a second, existing, bore hole dug above the tunnel. Samples can be taken from there but the range of hi-tech gadgets have given fresh hope to the families of 29 men trapped down the Pike River coal mine.
Once the drill breaks through into the mine, rescuers will look at lowering in another camera. It will also allow more samples of the deadly gases to be tested. Equipment to lay a special pipeline into the mine is being flown in from Queensland. The tube bundle line, which is about 10mm, will have a pump attached to it and will take gas from the chamber and feed it into the ''amenities'' area, where all the sampling gear is sited. This will cut down on the need for taking bag samples every 30 minutes.
Mr Whittall said it was very hard for him to listen to the list of his missing men read out to media. He was focused on bringing them home safe.
More relatives were taken to the mine site this morning and Whittall was to show them around the site. They would also be informed about rescue coordinators and efforts for the operation. Families of the 29 trapped miners were hugged by police officers as they arrived at a meeting to update them on the rescue mission this morning.
Prime Minister John Key said these were testing and difficult times. But he said it was owed to the men to carry out the rescue in a way that doesn't endanger their lives. He also visited the site this morning. He said US President Barack Obama had been in touch to offer support along with a number of world leaders.
Superintendent Tony Knowles, the man heading the rescue operation, said the mine rescue teams were still on standby. ''They are looking at which sections they will enter first.'' He said: ''Given we have not had contact from the men for three days, every effort is being made to carry out a rescue and we will go from there.''
Earlier, Grey District mayor Tony Kokshoorn said a search and rescue effort to save the trapped Pike River miners needed to go ahead today for the sake of their families.
"We're in limbo, we're desperate. [Families are] reaching the end of their tethers," Kokshoorn said. Every hour and every day that goes by we have to face the facts that they can't stay down there indefinitely. "Those families need to hear from the police that there is some movement forward." The weather in Greymouth was fine today, he said.
"That may be a good omen for us. I'm just hoping for a big step forward. But then, I don't know what that step is. But this can't go on, it's too hard on the families."
"The only way they'll start is with a reduction in gas levels. And that's going to be hard."
The relatives went to the local council offices in Greymouth to hear the latest details of the police-led mercy mission. Afterwards, family members stood outside with a policewoman looking at a detailed map of the mine interior.
Survivor Daniel Rockhouse, 24, was among the group of relatives. His brother Ben is one of the missing. Rockhouse walked out of the mine on Friday after the blast with colleague Russell Smith.
The Board and staff of Pike River part-owner New Zealand Oil & Gas have extended their "thoughts and sympathies to the men trapped at the Pike River Coal mine, their families, friends and colleagues".
"Like all New Zealanders, we are hoping for the best possible outcome from the rescue and recovery mission," NZOG said in a statement to the Stock Exchange this morning. NZOG, which holds just under 30 per cent of Pike's shares, said it would make "further statements on market-related issues" but did not indicate when.
Pike River shares were suspended from trading on the ASX late on Friday till Tuesday morning, pending a further announcement. After news of the mine explosion, Pike shares dropped 14 per cent in Australia, before the shares were put in a trading halt.
NZOG also asked for an immediate trading halt till Tuesday.
NZOG has had a long and close association with the Pike River coal mine. The project was developed by NZOG over two decades before Pike River Coal was publicly floated in 2007, and NZOG holds a 29.4 per cent stake in Pike River.