A fourth blast in only nine days occurred in New Zealand’s Pike River coal mine where 29 miners perished last week, according to The Associated Press.
After Sunday’s explosion, the coal mine caught fire and emitted large amounts of smoke and flames from its vertical ventilation shaft. To kill the fire, the mine might have to be provisionally closed to cut off oxygen supplies, which would cause considerable delays in recovering the bodies of the miners.
“This smoke has changed, it’s no longer a gas fire, it’s obviously now a coal fire,” said Peter Whittall, chief executive of Pike River, according to AP. He said that it is unknown where the coal fire is located or what size it is.
Operators plan on Monday to utilize a jet-powered engine to shoot carbon dioxide, nitrogen gas, and water vapor into the coal mine to squeeze out the oxygen and thus diminish the risk for more blasts.
The 29 miners got trapped after the first explosion on Nov. 19 and were pronounced dead five days later after the second blast. On Friday, methane gas seeped into the mine fueling the third explosion.
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announced on Monday that High Court Justice Graham Panckhurst will chair the inquiry into the Pike River disaster.
After Sunday’s explosion, the coal mine caught fire and emitted large amounts of smoke and flames from its vertical ventilation shaft. To kill the fire, the mine might have to be provisionally closed to cut off oxygen supplies, which would cause considerable delays in recovering the bodies of the miners.
“This smoke has changed, it’s no longer a gas fire, it’s obviously now a coal fire,” said Peter Whittall, chief executive of Pike River, according to AP. He said that it is unknown where the coal fire is located or what size it is.
Operators plan on Monday to utilize a jet-powered engine to shoot carbon dioxide, nitrogen gas, and water vapor into the coal mine to squeeze out the oxygen and thus diminish the risk for more blasts.
The 29 miners got trapped after the first explosion on Nov. 19 and were pronounced dead five days later after the second blast. On Friday, methane gas seeped into the mine fueling the third explosion.
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announced on Monday that High Court Justice Graham Panckhurst will chair the inquiry into the Pike River disaster.
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