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[ New Zealand Mine Disaster Rescue Stalls - NTDTV ]
The fate of the 29 miners caught in the massive explosion at Pike River Coal Mine near Greymouth, on the West Coast of New Zealand, becomes grimmer by the hour.At a briefing this afternoon, families of the miners were shown video footage that was taken of last Friday’s explosion. It showed dust and debris being hurled out of the mine from the impact of an explosion that came from the vicinity of the trapped miners’ work area.
It was a “morale breaker” that left family members “very subdued,” Greymouth District Mayor Gary Kokshoorn told radio Newtalkzb.
Police Commissioner Howard Broad described the miners’ plight as “bleak and getting bleaker by the hour.”
He was addressing a media conference held in Greymouth early Tuesday evening, according to Newstalkzb.
Police Minister Judith Collins, who was also at the conference, said decisions risking the lives of the rescue crew or miners who might be alive should be avoided.
Two more robots are being sourced in New Zealand and Australia.
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.jpg "Police Superintendent Gary Knowles (R) speaks to the media while CEO of Pike River Coal Mine Peter Whittall wipes his tears during a press conference. (Martin Hunter/Getty Images)")
A further 18 rescue workers from New South Wales have now joined the 65 mine rescue staff.
A second Defence Force robot arrived early Tuesday to replace an army robot that malfunctioned when water dropped on it early this morning. It had travelled 550 metres into the mine.
The rescue team are finding the wait to get into the mine “heart-wrenching,” Trevor Watts, of New Zealand Mines Rescue told Stuff.co.nz.
Although the team were ready to leave at a moment’s notice, they could not ignore the danger of causing a secondary explosion, he said.
The drilling of a bore hole to obtain more accurate gas samples was estimated to be completed by 10.30 p.m. Tuesday, according to an update from Television New Zealand. However, media will not be told until Wednesday morning, as the rescue authorities wish to inform members of the miners’ families first.
AAP newswire also reported that on Wednesday morning family will be briefed on progress made overnight and a formal media conference will follow.
A second Defence Force robot arrived early Tuesday to replace an army robot that malfunctioned when water dropped on it early this morning. It had travelled 550 metres into the mine.
The rescue team are finding the wait to get into the mine “heart-wrenching,” Trevor Watts, of New Zealand Mines Rescue told Stuff.co.nz.
Although the team were ready to leave at a moment’s notice, they could not ignore the danger of causing a secondary explosion, he said.
The drilling of a bore hole to obtain more accurate gas samples was estimated to be completed by 10.30 p.m. Tuesday, according to an update from Television New Zealand. However, media will not be told until Wednesday morning, as the rescue authorities wish to inform members of the miners’ families first.
AAP newswire also reported that on Wednesday morning family will be briefed on progress made overnight and a formal media conference will follow.
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