Mine blast leaves one dead, many missing

One person is understood to be dead and at least 32 people are unaccounted for after an underground explosion in the Pike River Coal Mine on the West Coast this afternoon.

A mix of miners and management, who were on a safety tour of the mine when the blast occurred, are among those missing.

Newstalk ZB are reporting a body has been taken from the mine to the Greymouth DHB.

Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee said the blast happened at 3.45pm and the last contact with any of the miners was lost at 4.15pm.

He said mine officials had no idea what caused the blast, or the condition of the miners who were trapped.

Pike River Coal CEO Peter Whittall confirmed those affected were a mix of afternoon shift workers and management.

He said emergency services were on stand-by at the mine entrance.

There are six ambulances and three rescue helicopters from Nelson, Greymouth and Christchurch at the scene.

Two miners have emerged from a service portal in a separate part of the mine, and are being interviewed by mine managers and emergency services.


The Mayor of Grey District, Tony Kokshoorn, told Radio New Zealand 25 to 30 people were unaccounted for, saying "it's not good".

Rapid response mines rescue teams are understood to have been mobilised from their headquarters at Rapahoe, seven miles north of Greymouth.

Escape tunnels in mine

Herald video journalist Simon Baker, who has been in the mine, says it does have an evacuation chute where miners can escape if the main entrance to the mine tunnel is blocked.

"They've built a small channel, which is just a ladder to the top of the mountain," said Mr Baker.

Mr Brownlee confirmed the existence of the exit tunnels but didn't know if they could be accessed by the miners.

He said he would be going to the mine tonight.

"Any assistance the Government can provide, the Government will be there."

Pike River Coal Mine

The mine is located 46 km to the northeast of Greymouth, halfway between Greymouth and Reefton.

The Brunner seam at Pike River holds the largest-known deposit of hard coking coal in New Zealand, with 58.5 million tonnes of coal in-ground. It runs six kilometres north-south and up to one-half kilometres east-west, averaging about 7 metres in thickness.

The company had recently almost halved its production forecasts for the 2011 year to between 320,000 and 360,000 tonnes.

The mine is extremely isolated. It is a hill site mine that is made up of horizontal tunnels.

Around 150 people are employed by the mine. New CEO Peter Whittall started on October 2.

New Zealand mining has seen a number of mass tragedies. They include:

Kaitangata, 21 February 1879: Thirty-four miners died in an explosion caused by candles in an area known for firedamp.

Brunner, 26 March 1896: Sixty-five miners were killed by choking gas. An enquiry determined the cause to be the unauthorised detonating of a charge in an abandoned section of the mine, although this has been contested.

Ralph's mine, Huntly, 12 September 1914: Forty-three miners were killed when a miner's naked light ignited firedamp.

Dobson mine, 3 December 1926: An explosion killed 9 men.

Glen Afton mine, Huntly, 24 September 1939: Eleven men were asphyxiated by carbon monoxide.

Strongman mine, 19 January 1967: An explosion killed 19 miners.

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I've been really impressed with that Pike River CEO. He obviously knows his stuff about mining and has has never wavered when answering questions from the media.

No confirmation on a death, but they have to act quickly because of gases building up etc.

Not good.

Wasn't there already issues with river pike mine anyway?

very best and the very best? Thought Campbell was being a right prick to Peter Whittall yesterday. "witholding information" and all that.

I thought the prick was the one comparing the disaster to 9/11