Police: Second blast ends all hope for missing New Zealand miners

2010-11-24 14:14:34 GMT+7 (ICT)

GREYMOUTH, NEW ZEALAND (BNO NEWS) -- Five days of uncertainty came to an end on Wednesday when a large explosion rocked the Pike River Coal Mine in New Zealand, ending all hopes to find any of the missing miners alive.

A group of thirty-one miners were inside Pike River on Friday afternoon when the first blast happened, trapping all but two miners inside. The two survivors escaped several hours later with minor to moderate injuries.

On Wednesday, as families and officials began losing hope that there could still be survivors inside the mine, a much larger explosion rocked the mine. "It is our belief that no one has survived and everyone will have perished," said police superintendent Gary Knowles, calling it one of the most tragic things he has dealt with.

Pike River Coal Mine CEO Peter Whittall was the one to deliver the news to family members of the victims. "It was hard, obviously," he said. "They've looked to me for hope and they've looked to me for keeping them informed and to let them know what is going on, which I've tried to do as factually and clearly as I could."

The news fueled anger of relatives who believe rescuers should have gone into the mine in an attempt to rescue the miners, although officials insist this was too dangerous. Some relatives thought a rescue mission would finally be launched when they were told there was news.

"We thought they were going on for a rescue mobilization and then we got told to hush up and then they told us a second explosion took place," said Laurie Drew, father of 21-year-old trapped miner Zen. "And that's when people got up and started yelling abuse, saying: 'you had the window of opportunity five days ago, why didn't you take it?'"

But Drew said he and others were still holding hope of finding survivors. "We are still hoping for a miracle for someone to actually come out," he said.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key addressed the nation soon after the announcement of the news, which has held the nation in its grip since it began on Friday. "We are a nation in mourning," he said.

"While this morning we held on to hope, we must now make way for sorrow. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of these 29 brave men. After days of waiting, of both preparing for the worst and hoping for the best, they have been delivered the cruelest of news."

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-11-24

Tragic news. Condolences to family and friends.. very very sad.