UPDATE WEDNESDAY 7pm: Prime Minister John Key called the miners' deaths a national tragedy. "To lose this many brothers at once strikes an agonising blow," Mr Key said.Tomorrow, the prime minister will travel to Greymouth to meet with famil
UPDATE WEDNESDAY 7pm: Prime Minister John Key called the miners' deaths a national tragedy.
"To lose this many brothers at once strikes an agonising blow," Mr Key said.
Tomorrow, the prime minister will travel to Greymouth to meet with families of the miners, and those who worked on the rescue.
"From the moment of the first explosion, they have spent every waking hour tirelessly working, searching for a way to bring these men home alive. That was not to be. Their enormous effort can not go unmarked," the prime minister said this evening.
Parliament will be lifted as a mark of respect, and flags flown at half mast on all government buildings.
Mr Key expected details of a Commission of Inquiry to be confirmed at next Monday's cabinet meeting, "along with any other inquiries that may be deemed appropriate".
Chief coroner judge Neil McLean has already announced he will open special inquiry into the miners' deaths.
UPDATE WEDNESDAY 5pm: The 29 miners trapped underground have been confirmed dead after a second explosion ripped through the mine this afternoon.
Supt Gary Knowles confirmed to media this afternoon that there is no chance any of the miners survived the explosion, which happened at 2.37pm this afternoon.
Mr Knowles said telling the families of the miners was the hardest thing he had ever done.
Pike River chief executive Peter Whittall, who viewed the second explosion on CCTV, said in his subjective opinion, the second explosion was larger and stronger than the Friday blast that trapped 29 men down the Pike River Coal Mine.
It lasted around 30 seconds.
Mr Whittall said the explosion was not caused by the rescue operation.
Mr Whittall told relatives the news before the press conference.
"It's hard, they've looked to me for hope ... It was my task; I wanted to tell the families," Mr Whittall said.
He added, "We still want our boys back."
The miners were:
Conrad John Adams, 43 (Greymouth)
Malcolm Campbell, 25 (Scotland)
Glen Peter Cruse, 35 (Cobden)
Allan John Dixon, 59 (Rununga)
Zen Wodin Drew, 21 (Greymouth)
Christopher Peter Duggan, 31 (Greymouth)
Joseph Ray Dunbar, 17 (Greymouth)
John Leonard Hale, 45 (Ruatapu)
Daniel Thomas Herk, 36, (Rununga)
David Mark Hoggart, 33, (Foxton)
Richard Bennett Holling, 41, (Blackball)
Andrew David Hurren 32, (Greymouth)
Jacobus (Koos) Albertus Jonker, 47 (South Africa)
William John Joynson, 49 (Australia)
Riki Steve Keane, 28 (Greymouth)
Terry David Kitchin, 41 (Rununga)
Samuel Peter Mackie, 26 (Greymouth)
Francis Skiddy Marden, 41 Rununga
Michael Nolan Hanmer Monk, 23 Greymouth
Stuart Gilbert Mudge, 31 (Rununga)
Kane Barry Nieper, 33 (Greymouth)
Peter O'Neill, 55 (Rununga)
Milton John Osborne, 54 (Ngahere)
Brendan John Palmer, 27 (Cobden)
Benjamin David Rockhouse, 21 (Greymouth)
Peter James Rodger, 40 (Britain)
Blair David Sims, 28, (Greymouth)
Joshua Adam Ufer, 25, (Australia)
Keith Thomas Valli, 62, (Winton)
UPDATE WEDNESDAY 10.45am: The bore hole into the mine has been completed and a rush of hot air and gas came out when the bore broke through.
Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee said the bore, 15cm wide, broke through about 9.30am.
A camera or listening device may be lowered in.
Supt Gary Knowles described the Australian robot, which arrived at Hokitika Aiprort this morning, as a "very large beast". It is being transported to the mine by truck.
Pike River boss Peter Whittall was unsure of the Australian robot's exact size, but said it was larger than the two NZDF robots currently in the mine.
It would have to be assessed if the Australian robot could navigate around the loader blocking the access way.
Mr Whittall said on day one the rescue team aimed to get all 29 trapped miners out. Now, getting all 29 out "would be great" but the team's aim had become to "get as many guys out as we can".
The chief executive refused to answer a question from a reporter who asked why the Pike River rescue team had not gone in when fireman entered the Twin Towers immediately on 9/11.
Mr Whittall said the reading from the bore hole, which broke through into the mine this morning, was very high in carbon monoxide and methane and very low in oxygen.
A second bore hole is being drilled in another part of the mine but this will only be 117m, compared to the first hole which is 162m.
He also said one of the robots had found a cap lamp left by one of the two miners who escaped after the blast.
"Encouragingly, the cap lamp is still burning," he said.
UPDATE WEDNESDAY 9am: A Hercules carrying the Australian robot arrived today at Hokitika Airport at 7.45am today.
An NZ Defence Force robots entered the mine early yesterday, stopping at the 500m mark after encountering water.
Later in the day, army technicians manged to remotely restart the robot, which traveled another 500m, to the 1km mark, before its batter ran flat.
A second NZ Defence Force robot has just entered the mine.
There is no word yet on when the Australian robot is scheduled to go in.S
Work on the bore whole was further delayed overnight but was expected to be resumed this morning.
The next press conference is scheduled for 10am.
UPDATE TUESDAY 6PM: Police have shown media and the families of those missing a cctv video of the entrance to the mine as the blast occurred and said the explosion went for 50 seconds.
TV3 video: CCTV footage of the blast
Stuff graphic: Where the miners are
"The video is not new evidence, it’s nothing new. It showed that the blast was very large and went on from quite some time. It’s from at least 2.5 km away so you can see the length of time and violence shown in the video would indicate that further into the mine, much closer to the source, that it was quite a significant event indeed," Pike River boss Peter Whittall said.
He said a camera was lowered into a portion of the mine today - to a fresh air refuge base - which showed no sign of having been used.
Police superintendent Gary Knowles said: "We are preparing for a rescue but we are aware that the likelihood of this is diminishing. The risk of secondary explosions is real. The situation is bleak, it is grave and you have to understand that the risk posed by a secondary explosion is real. "
UPDATE TUESDAY 3.20PM: Another robot has been sent to the Pike River Coal Mine after the first robot failed earlier today.
A spokesman for Defence Minister Wayne Mapp said this afternoon a second robot had been brought to the mine by helicopter.
The first one only made it 550m into the mine’s tunnel before it failed, apparently due to water damage as a result of it not being adequately waterproofed.
However, its replacement isn’t going into the mine just yet – it will have to be tested by at length by rescue workers before it goes into the mine, if it even goes in at all.
Authorities are still trying to bring in more advanced robots from America and Western Australia to assist in the operation.
New Zealand Mines Rescue general manager Trevor Watts said today the issue with gases inside the mine is not toxicity but “explosibility”.
Police will be making another update via media conference tonight at 5.30pm.
UPDATE TUESDAY 11AM: Police have confirmed the Defence Force robot has broken down and will no longer be used as part of the Pike River Coal Mine rescue operation.
Police Superintendent Gary Knowles, who is in charge of the operation, confirmed at a media conference today that the robot had stopped working.
He wouldn't speculate on what had caused the failure although it is thought to have been a result of water damage.
Negotiations are underway to bring in more advanced robots from the USA and Western Australia.
Pike River chief executive Peter Whittall said the robot had only made it 550m into the mine tunnel.
He also said the drilling of a hole into the mine had to be stopped overnight after the drill hit very hard rock.
The diamond drill bit, which was meant to be used for the last 10m to prevent creating a potentially explosive spark is now being used for the final 20m.
He said it would be another five hours before drilling was completed.
UPDATE TUESDAY 9.45AM: The Defence Force robot sent in to the Pike River Coal Mine has reportedly broken down.
Relatives of the miners, who were briefed on the rescue operation's progress this morning, have told media the robot was in the mine but had stopped working.
Tasman Area Police Commander Superintendent Gary Knowles told Radio New Zealand this morning that an American robot had been offered to the rescuers.
Meanwhile, the hole being drilled into the ground above the mine had reached the last 10m of the 162m hole.
A diamond drill bit is being used for the final stretch so as not to cause sparks that could potentially ignite another explosion.
Police will be updating on the operation's progress at 10am.
UPDATE MONDAY 5.40PM: There will be no rescue attempt made at Pike River Coal's West Coast mine tonight, police announced at a press conference minutes ago
Pike River continues to conduct half-hourly tests for gas as the mining rescue operations stretches into another night.
Tasman Police District Commander Supt Gary Knowles told a media conference that they needed to 'ensure beyond reasonable doubt' that it was safe before sending in any rescue operation - including the planned robot. He said a result on that was expected tonight.
Supt Knowles said they were 'still keeping an open mind but planning for all possible outcomes...including loss of life."
Pike River ceo Peter Whittall revealed a second bore hole had been opened on the other side of where the miners were thought to be and the air was clear. He also said the drill would be slowed down before it was changed to the diamond headed drill to ensure no sparks were set off.
UPDATE MONDAY 2pm: Pike River Coal has issued an update on the mining rescue operation, including its plan to send in a New Zealand Army robot to check the access tunnel.
Chief Executive Peter Whittall, said if it could operate safely within the main access tunnel, it would be used first to check the area where an underground loader is thought to be blocking the access way.
A longer control cable is being sought for the machine which might allow it to proceed further along the 2.2km tunnel towards the area of coal workings.
The gas sampling tubing from Queensland would allow the second gas survey point now being drilled to be connected to analysis equipment and speed up the turnaround of results.
Mr Whittall said the drilling, which is being done to provide a second place to take gas readings, is progressing well, with the drill having cut more than 100 metres of its 162 metre target.
A special drill bit would be used for the last 10 metres to minimise the chance of any sparking when it breaks through into the mine drive below.
Depending on where the drill hole intersects the drive, laser and other imaging gear which can be lowered down the hole may provide more information about the situation deeper in the mine, he said.
Fibre-optic cable is being laid from the mine portal area to the top of the main ventilation shaft.
It would allow the rescue planners to see any changes in the air coming out of the shaft.
The Department of Conservation is assisting with track access to the new sample points.
An RNZAF Iroquois arrived in Greymouth overnight. This gives an enhanced winching and night vision capability to assist us with accessing the areas specialists need to get to.
Police will be holding a media conference with an update on the rescue operation's progress at 5.30pm today.
UPDATE MONDAY 10.30am: Tasman Police District Commander Superintendent Gary Knowles has read out the names, ages and nationalities of the 29 miners who have been trapped since Friday afternoon.
Pike River chief executive Peter Whittal told the same 10.30am media briefing that an arm robot was being prepared to enter the mine.
The Defence Force robot, which will be attached to chord, will be able some distance into the shaft, but will be limited by its amount of cable. Extra cable is being flown in from overseas, Superintendent Knowles said. There is no set time for the robot to enter the mine. An army team is working to make the robot spark-proof.
Drilling of a six-inch wide, 150m deep shaft began last night and "good progress" is being made, Mr Whittal said. The bore was two-thirds complete.
As well as air-monitoring equipment, a fibre optic camera will be dropped down the shaft to look for signs of life. The fibre optic camera operates via light signals only, so won't create any spark.
Asked if there was any consideration of an investigation into possible negligence, a riled Superintendent Knowles said media speculation was unhelpful, and emphasised it was it was still a search and rescue operation.
Prime Minister John Key also dismissed a question about whether the government would consider placing a ban on mining in the area.
He said the safety record in New Zealand mining was good and it had been a long time since the last mine explosion in the West Coast.
However, he said an inquiry or inquiries would take place after the rescue operation was completed.
"We will need to ask ourselves some tough questions," he said.
Gas levels remain too volatile for rescue crews to enter the mine.
UPDATE SUNDAY 4.15pm: New Zealand Mines Rescue general manager Trevor Watts has told media that gas testing is taking place every half hour.
Gas levels are generally coming down, but fluctuating. The atmosphere is still too volatile, and potentially explosive, for rescuers to enter the mine.
"We're still in the gun barrel. You put a bullet at one end of the gun it's going to come out the other end,' Mr Watts said.
Rescuers are still unsure of the heat inside the mine following the Friday explosion, or if there has since been a fire.
UPDATE SUNDAY 8.30am: Pike River chief executive Peter Whittal has told an 8am press conference that little has changed since last night, when an air sample taken at 8pm showed it was "too risky" for rescuers to enter the mine.
There was still a risk of a second explosion, Mr Whittal said.
Police said high levels of methane and carbon dioxide mean a rescue effort is "not as simple as putting on a mask. The risk is huge." However, air quality was getting better.
The mine is also heating up, the media briefing was told. This could be due to a fire, or smoldering coal from the initial explosion.
New access point to be drilled today
Mr Whittal said a rig would drill a six-inch wide, 100m to 150m deep shaft into the mine to take further air samples. All going well, this would take around 16 hours.
The rig was airlifted in, and is currently being assembled onsite.
Samples taken via the bore will give the "first real picture" of the situation underground, Mr Whittal said.
Tasman Police District Commander Superintendent Gary Knowles said families of the 29 trapped miner were distraught that the rescue could not get underway, but still held out hope that the men were still alive.
Air is being pumped into the mine, but it is not known if it is reaching the miners, who have been trapped since an explosion at the top of a ventilation shaft around 3.30pm Friday.
Herald on Sunday: Experts question Pike River safety
UPDATE SUNDAY 7am: The 29 trapped miners have spent a second night underground, with no communication. The rescue effort has yet to begin.
Air quality testing was suspended last night as toxic gas in the horizontal mine reached levels that mad it unsafe to continue. Another explosion was feared.
Testing was expected to resume early today.
At 7.30am this morning, families of the trapped miners are in a briefing with police, the Red Cross and Pike River chief executive Peter Whittal.
UPDATED SATURDAY 9pm Police have released the nationalities of the 29 miners trapped underground at the Pike River coal mine.
Superintendent Gary Knowles said that, based on information provided by the mining company, Police believe there are 24 New Zealanders, two Australians, two British citizens and one South African.
UPDATE SATURDAY 3.30pm The police say search and mine rescue staff are prepared to enter the Pike River coal mine once the air and gas levels are sufficiently clear to safely do so.
Superintendent Gary Knowles, Tasman Police District Commander and officer in charge of the West Coast rescue and recovery operation, said he is not prepared to put the lives of volunteer rescuers at risk while the gas levels remain high.
"This is a fine balancing act. We know that families and friends are anxious to hear news of their loved ones and all response personnel are totally focused on bringing their men home.
"If there's a window of opportunity to get safely into the mine then that will happen. Just when that will be I am unable to say," he said via a press release.
UPDATE SATURDAY 2.09pm: Air samples are inconclusive, Pike River chief executive Peter Whittal told media. Rescuers are still waiting for the final all-clear to enter the mine.
Police said "It is a very fine balance, not going to put 16 men underground and risk their lives. Safety is paramount."
Background (source Bloomberg):
Pike River is part-owned by India’s Gujarat NRE Coke and Saurashtra Fuels, which also take some of its low-ash, low-phosphorus coking coal, used by steelmakers. The mine was forecast to produce 320,000 to 360,000 metric tons of coal in the year through June, the company said Oct. 19.
Mining employs about 6,000 people in New Zealand, according to government website www.beehive.govt.nz. The industry earned about $NZ1.1 billion in export receipts in 2009.
New Zealand’s last mining disaster occurred in 1967, when 19 people died in a blast at the Strongman coal mine, also near Greymouth.
NZ Herald: How the Pike River rescue will work
Stuff video: Rescuers cleared to enter West Coast mine
UPDATE SATURDAY 8.15am: Pike River chief executive Peter Whittal has just told a media that 29 men are still trapped in the mine, not 27 as previously reported.
The trapped miners range in age from 17 to 62. They include the brother of one of two men who escaped yesterday, Greymouth councilor Milton Osborne, and Blair Sims, a player for the region's rugby league team.
Greymouth mayor Tony Kokshoorn said at the same briefing that the explosion destroyed the top of the mine's ventilation shaft.
It will be several hours before an air quality sample is obtained, said Mr Whittal. The level of methane needs to be accessed before rescuers can enter the mine, due to fears of a gas explosion.
Police Superintendent Gary Knowles added, "This is a search and rescue operation. We are going to bring these guys home."
Watch 3News' latest video update online here.
UPDATE SATURDAY 7am: Pike River Coal chairman John Dow said early this morning that power was still out to the mine, meaning ventilation systems would not be working.
Police expressed fears about the air quality.
There has been no contact with 27 people trapped down the mine since a gas explosion at round 4.10pm yesterday.
Mr Dow said it was possible the men had reached one of several refuges in the mine, where there should be fresh air.
Miners also had their own emergency personal air supply packs, which would last 30 to 60 minutes.
"With the power not working, and therefore the ventilation not working, they're still checking if it's safe for people to go in the mine," Mr Dow told media.
"Obviously in a coal mine like this, when the ventilation goes off, gas builds up in the mine."
Police Superintendent Gary Knowles said air quality testing was being carried out.
Reports on when rescue crews will be able to enter the mine range from hours to days.
Energy minister Gerry Brownlee has turned down an Australian government offer of help. While details of the current incident are still unclear, in March 2009, after a rock fall blocked a ventilation shaft, equipment was air-freighted across the Tasman for a drill-and-blast repair effort, carried out by Australian contractor Alimak.
A media conference has been scheduled for around 8am this morning.
READ ALSO: Aussie investors offload Pike shares ahead of trading halt
BELOW: The approximate location of the mine (click controls for more options):
View Pike River coal mine in a larger map
UPDATE FRIDAY 9.30pm: Greymouth mayor Tony Kokshoorn has just told media it could take days to rescue the miners but that "We are holding on to hope. Look at Chile, all those miners were trapped and they all came out alive."
For now, rescue helicopters have returned to base, empty.
Rescuers are still accessing the safety of the situation and have yet to enter the mine.
UPDATE: 9.20pm: Pike River spokesman Dick Knapp has confirmed that a gas explosion caused the incident.
Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee said an offer of help has been received from the Australian government, but that the NZ government has declined.
UPDATE: 8.30pm: Two men have been rescued but up to 27 others are feared still trapped following an explosion at the Pike River Coal Mine.
Rescue workers have not entered the mine.
Minister of Energy Gerry Brownlee is heading to the scene.
Mr Brownlee told media the blast happened at 3.45pm and the last contact with any of the miners was lost at 4.15pm.
Electricity has reportedly failed around the mine, causing complications as night falls.
UPDATE 5.15pm Emergency services are heading to the Pike River Coal Mine northeast of Greymouth after reports of an explosion.
There were thought to be between 25 and 30 people underground at the time of the explosion.
The Pike River Mine runs 2.2km underneath the Paparoa Ranges, 46km northeast of Greymouth.
Pike River chairman John Dow refused comment when contacted by The Press shortly after first reports of the explosion around 5pm following an incident around 4.30pm.
