Related News
Fears of toxic gas blasts delay mine rescue
Source: Agencies |
November 22, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
EFFORTS to rescue 29 men trapped in a New Zealand coal mine faced more agonising delays yesterday, as authorities began drilling a new shaft to test air quality because toxic gases made it too dangerous for rescue teams to go in.
There has been no contact with the miners since an explosion ripped through the colliery on the rugged west coast of New Zealand's South Island on Friday afternoon, with authorities saying they would not enter until the air quality improved.
Air tests were being conducted regularly, and the new shaft would enable authorities to conduct more tests, but drilling it could take as long as 24 hours.
Naturally occurring methane gas is thought to have caused the explosion. High levels of gas have been detected near mine ventilation shafts, but rescue teams need to know gas levels throughout the mine before entering.
"It's not a case of simply pulling on a mask and running in there, the risk is huge," district police commander Gary Knowles said. "I'm not going to put 16 guys underground to effect a poorly planned?rescue."
It has been a traumatic wait on the surface for family and friends of the trapped men, who range in age from 17 to 62 and include two Britons, two Australians and a South?African.
Grim-faced family and friends of the missing miners were taken to the mine site and spent around an hour watching the rescue preparations.
Knowles denied suggestions that the operation was moving slowly because they?did not expect to find anyone alive.
"This is still a search and rescue operation, the focus being on rescue, we're still positive that we're going to able to facilitate a rescue," Knowles said.
Rescue teams are on standby at the site and once the decision is made to enter the mine, the operation is expected to be quick, given the small search area in the two year-old mine, which has been dug 2.3 kilometers into a mountain range.
There has been no contact with the miners since an explosion ripped through the colliery on the rugged west coast of New Zealand's South Island on Friday afternoon, with authorities saying they would not enter until the air quality improved.
Air tests were being conducted regularly, and the new shaft would enable authorities to conduct more tests, but drilling it could take as long as 24 hours.
Naturally occurring methane gas is thought to have caused the explosion. High levels of gas have been detected near mine ventilation shafts, but rescue teams need to know gas levels throughout the mine before entering.
"It's not a case of simply pulling on a mask and running in there, the risk is huge," district police commander Gary Knowles said. "I'm not going to put 16 guys underground to effect a poorly planned?rescue."
It has been a traumatic wait on the surface for family and friends of the trapped men, who range in age from 17 to 62 and include two Britons, two Australians and a South?African.
Grim-faced family and friends of the missing miners were taken to the mine site and spent around an hour watching the rescue preparations.
Knowles denied suggestions that the operation was moving slowly because they?did not expect to find anyone alive.
"This is still a search and rescue operation, the focus being on rescue, we're still positive that we're going to able to facilitate a rescue," Knowles said.
Rescue teams are on standby at the site and once the decision is made to enter the mine, the operation is expected to be quick, given the small search area in the two year-old mine, which has been dug 2.3 kilometers into a mountain range.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
