Blast fears delays rescue mission in New Zealand South Island's coal mine

The risk of another explosion has delayed the rescue mission of 29 men trapped underground since a methane gas blast at Pike River Coal mine near the west coast town of Greymouth in New Zealand's South Island.

On Saturday morning, rescuers were still unable to enter the remote West Coast mine. Police on Friday put the number of trapped miners at 27.

Pike River Coal chief executive Peter Whittall said on Saturday the men remained unaccounted for but fresh air was being forced into the mine through a damaged compressed air pipe but rescuers would not go underground until they knew it was safe.

There has been no communication with the miners and contractors at the Pike River Coal mine at Atarau, about 50 km north-east of West Coast town of Greymouth, since Friday afternoon.

A methane gas explosion cut the power and blew out ventilation fans at the South Island mine just before 4 p.m. on Friday.

Officials said the threat of poisonous gas and the instability of the horizontal mine means it remains too dangerous for any rescue attempt.

Pike River Coal is testing air quality at the mine and will decide later on Saturday whether it is safe to enter.

Two men walked out unaided on Friday afternoon and are in hospital with moderate injuries. They were only 1,500 meters into the mine and the force of the explosion blew one loader driver off his machine.

The other workers were believed to be trapped about 2 km along the tunnel burrowed into the side of a mountain and about 120 meters below the surface. Their conditions are not known.

Sixteen of the workers are employed by Pike River Coal and 13 are local contractors.

Among those also trapped are two Australians and about four men traveling on British passports.

Pike River Coal said compressed air is being pumped into the mine but the pipe is damaged and the company has no way of knowing where the air is dispersing.
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