Hope fading for trapped miners in NZ

The likelihood is diminishing of a successful rescue of 29 miners who have been trapped in Pike River coal mine in New Zealand's South Island for five days, the police officer in charge of the operation said on Tuesday.

"The situation is bleak," Gary Knowles told a press conference in the West Coast town of Greymouth.

The rescue team cannot go into the mine at present because the risk of secondary explosion is real, he said.

CCTV footage was shown of the mine entrance when the explosion occurred on Friday afternoon.

The footage showed a 52-second blast of gas and dust as the force of the explosion was released out of the mine entrance and also up a separate vertical shaft.

Pike River coal mine chief executive Peter Whittall told the news conference a camera was sent down on Tuesday to a fresh air base where workers can seek refuge in the case of fire.

Whittall said it showed some minor damage to the area but no sign of any people. Mine officials say the footage demonstrates the force of the explosion, which is likely to have occurred about two kilometres into the mine.

A second Defence Force robot has delivered by helicopter at the Pike River coal mine to replace the one that broke down inside the mine.

Earlier in the morning, the first robot failed after coming into contact with water just 550 metres into the mine.

There has been no communication with the miners and contractors at the horizontal mine at Atarau, near Greymouth, since a methane gas explosion cut power and blew out ventilation fans at 3.45 p.m. on Friday.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key told the Parliament on Tuesday that police are planning for possible loss of life in the Pike River coal mine.

Key said the missing miners' families felt a sense of helplessness and frustration.

Source: Xinhua