GREYMOUTH, New Zealand, (AFP) - Fears over poisonous and combustible gases were preventing rescuers from entering a coal mine in New Zealand where 29 men are missing after an explosion, police said Saturday.
A specialist mine rescue team was on standby at the Pike River colliery but would not go underground until tests confirmed there had been no buildup of gases in the wake of Friday's blast, police commander Gary Knowles said.
There has been no contact with the men since the explosion at the remote mine and Knowles said rescuers were hoping to swing into action in the next 24 hours, once air samples from the mine showed there was no gas. “To date we have not had an opportunity to get underground... as the search commander I'm not prepared to put people underground until we can prove it's a safe environment,” he told reporters.
Reaching the miners as quickly as possible while ensuring no rescuers were hurt was “a fine balancing act”, Knowles said. Mine owners said the potential danger from explosive methane and poisonous carbon monoxide was responsible for the delay.
They continued to hold out hope the missing men were alive, although Grey District mayor Tony Kokshoorn conceded “every hour that goes by, it gets more dire”. Prime Minister John Key said every effort was being made to reach the miners, who range in age from a 17-year-old, believed to be on his first shift, to a 62-year-old. “It's a difficult time for everyone but we're determined to get the men out alive,” he said.
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