General Chat

4 hours ago there was an explosion in a coal mine on the West Coast (S. Is.) of NZ. There are rumours of 1 death so far, but it has not been confirmed. There are about 30 people missing. Let us hope and pray that they are all safe.

Huia.

Hi Huia.

Yes, just heard it on our 6pm tele news.

Very sad news.

Sending hopes and prayers to all those missing.


Tony ( Australia )

Positive thoughts for the miners and contractors still inside the mine.

Have just seen a news report that two miners are out and three more are on their way to the surface, no news yet of the other 30 or so miners.

Oh Huia,

I had no idea. In my prayers and thoughts, their families too.

xxx Shimms xxx

Thinking of all those involved It has just been on our nes but they seem to have very little information at present

Linda X

It's not looking too good at the moment - they are giving us news updates, the number given is 27 trapped. A lot of concern about the air quality - gas explosions are very risky In the mines on the West Coast.

It's going to be a long night for some - so let's just hang in there with our thoughts for these guys.

Persey

Thinkinmg of these poor men and their families. Hope for better news soon.

Read the report on yahoo this morning,very distressing with me living in an old mining town,,we are praying that only one life has been lost.Fred

What kind of mine is it?

One of the reasons I don't wear jewellery is,apart from it getting in my way, I don't think people should be risking their lives in an environment I would not want to enter to provide me with something I don't need.

Why do I jump in with both feet? Having looked at the title of the thread I surmise it might be a coal mine.

Now I feel a bigger idiot than before.

5am here - they have still been unable to access the mine and nothing has been heard from the 27 trapped. There is the worry of the gases and whether there could be another explosion. All the miners have individual breathing devices which reconstructs their own air back into oxygen.

Perse

I am sorry tohear about this.Gas is I know, a huge problem in mines and can explode easily. Hope something can be done for the men.

Saw this earlier on Yahoo. I haven't seen the t.v. news, so haven't seen an update.
I will be thinking of those poor miners and their families.
Hoping for a good outcome.

Tess

Some of the miners are from the UK and from Australia as well as New Zealanders. This mine isn't far down but along the ground for 2 km and the explosion seems to be near the ventilation shaft where it is believed faulty wiring may have exploded first. I think I heard that they were pumping clean air in before being able to do any more, trying to get through at the mo could spark further explosions and apparently all the rescue people are volunteers with mining experience. No news from those trapped so far, let's hope they are alive and not badly injured and can be rescued soon.

Lizx

This is not looking good on the news this morning.

Did others see there had also been a mining problem in China too.

Linda

Yes, Linda, I think there was flooding in the Chinese mine, but apparently they got the miners out.

It certainly isnt looking good for our lot, but I keep thinking of the ones in Chile surviving all that time, although I dont think that one was an explosion.

Huia.

The head of Police was talking earlier and it would seem that hopes are faiding(sp), the explosion was quite a big one. But they are not giving up the rescue, all we can do is be positive and hope and pray that they are ok.
This must be horrific for all the families waiting to hear any news.

jude xx

It is a very sad day today. Almost 5 hours ago there was another even bigger explosion in the mine. Nobody could have survived it, even if they had survived the first, which I doubt.

Huia.

Terrible, terrible sad news to hear this.

It appears more methane gas leaking from the rocks inside the mine has caused a second massive explosion.

Thoughts and prayers for our New Zealand neighbours, their families, and the families of the two Australian lads who also perished.


Would need nothing short of a miracle for anyone to be alive now.


God bless them all. RIP


Tony

My heart goes out to the families of the miners. They must have been living in hope and now that hope is gone. Very sad news.

Cath xx