Rescuers were given clearance Saturday to "immediately" enter a New Zealand coal mine where 29 men are missing a day after a gas explosion, a senior official was reported saying.
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| A map locating the Pike River coal mine in New Zealand. Rescuers were given clearance Saturday to "immediately" enter a New Zealand coal mine where 29 men are missing a day after a gas explosion, a senior official was reported saying. |
The rescue mission had been delayed because of fears a gas build up could cause another blast, but Grey District mayor Tony Kokshoorn said 20 rescue staff now had the green light to enter the mine.
"This is a delicate situation, but this is fantastic news and we\'ve just got to hope we come out with a fantastic result," Kokshoorn told Fairfax Media.
He told the New Zealand Herald that results from three air samples from the mine showed the gas was not explosive.
The police who are overseeing the rescue operation are to hold a media conference at 2:00pm (0100GMT).
The explosion in the Pike River mine, located in an isolated area about 50 kilometres (30 miles) north of Greymouth on New Zealand\'s West Coast, occurred just before 4:00pm Friday.
Two men were able to walk out with minor injuries but there has been no communication with the missing men since then.
However, the Pike River operators continued to hold out hope the 29 -- ranging in age from 17 to 62 and including Australians and Britons -- were still alive even though the ventilation system was knocked out in the blast.
Pike River chief executive Peter Whittall said fresh air was being pumped into the mine and it was possible the miners had reached a safety refuge.
"We are pumping fresh air into the mine somewhere so it\'s quite conceivable they are sitting around the end of an open pipe waiting and wondering why we are taking our time to get them out."