Painful wait for NZ mine families
Monday, 22 November 2010
The agony of families of 29 men trapped underground after an explosion at a New Zealand mine is set to continue as delays plague the rescue effort, reports BBC.
Toxic gas levels have kept rescuers out, and a test shaft is being drilled through 150m (500 feet) of rock.
The only relief for helpless families on Sunday was being taken to view the mine, reports the BBC's Greg Ward.
No contact has been made with the miners since Friday's blast at the mine near Greymouth on the South Island.
Rescuers say they have "no idea" how long it might take to reach the men, but they insist they remain positive about finding them alive.
The missing workers, aged from 17 to 62, include 24 New Zealanders, two Australians, two Britons and a South African.
Tearful families members were taken on a tour of the site of the Pike River coal mine on Sunday, in an effort to help them understand the dangers keeping rescuers at bay and to show them the rescue drills that are under way in preparation for an eventual operation.
A woman weeps amid family and friends of the 29 coal miners who are trapped underground after an explosion near Greymouth in New Zealand, 21 November 21 2010 Families were taken to the site on Sunday to see rescue preparations
"There was a lot of emotion on the site... there were some very poignant things up there for them, cars still parked and other things, and they were very emotional," said Pike River chief executive Peter Whittall, according to AFP news agency.
He said that - 48 hours after the men were trapped - the families were "starting to be very concerned and want as much information as they can".
Laurie Drew, whose 21-year-old son Zen is among those trapped, told New Zealand's TV3 network that seeing a board with the men's name tags missing was "hard".
Toxic gas levels have kept rescuers out, and a test shaft is being drilled through 150m (500 feet) of rock.
The only relief for helpless families on Sunday was being taken to view the mine, reports the BBC's Greg Ward.
No contact has been made with the miners since Friday's blast at the mine near Greymouth on the South Island.
Rescuers say they have "no idea" how long it might take to reach the men, but they insist they remain positive about finding them alive.
The missing workers, aged from 17 to 62, include 24 New Zealanders, two Australians, two Britons and a South African.
Tearful families members were taken on a tour of the site of the Pike River coal mine on Sunday, in an effort to help them understand the dangers keeping rescuers at bay and to show them the rescue drills that are under way in preparation for an eventual operation.
A woman weeps amid family and friends of the 29 coal miners who are trapped underground after an explosion near Greymouth in New Zealand, 21 November 21 2010 Families were taken to the site on Sunday to see rescue preparations
"There was a lot of emotion on the site... there were some very poignant things up there for them, cars still parked and other things, and they were very emotional," said Pike River chief executive Peter Whittall, according to AFP news agency.
He said that - 48 hours after the men were trapped - the families were "starting to be very concerned and want as much information as they can".
Laurie Drew, whose 21-year-old son Zen is among those trapped, told New Zealand's TV3 network that seeing a board with the men's name tags missing was "hard".