29 Miners Trapped After New Zealand Mine Explosion
Several days ago, a New Zealand mine explosion was reported. Almost 30 men are reported as trapped. Right after the blast, 2 men walked out unscathed but a rescue operation is beginning. However, it is not known whether the adult men in Pike River mine are still alive.
New Zealand saw a mine explode
The Pike River Mine exploded in New Zealand on Nov. 12. The mine is in the West Coast region of New Zealand, to the northeast of Christchurch. They believe at least 27 men were trapped in one area of the mine alone but are unsure how most are trapped total. Later, two men walked out of the mine; they had been working in a different section than those trapped, according to the BBC. Supposedly three other men walked out as well, though this has not been confirmed. Over the weekend, it was determined that at least two other men weren’t accounted for, and the number of trapped miners was raised to 29. A rescue operation has started.
Supply of air only 30 minutes
The problem, much like the one Chilean miners faced months ago, is getting to the emergency shelter and establishing communication. The minors have a back up supply of oxygen but it is only a 20 minute supply reports The Telegraph. The emergency supply provides enough oxygen for miners to get to emergency stations with oxygen stores for a few days. Peter Whitall, the mining company’s chief executive says that the miners typically only operate at about 400 feet down, but the mine is around a mile and a half deep. Nobody has even been able to confirm if the miners are alive as of this point because they have not established communication yet. There are Britons and Australians among the trapped with the New Zealanders.
Fire damp could cause problems
The danger in the coal mine is a methane gas called fire damp. Gasses like fire damp that are found in mine aren’t only dangerous but highly explosive and can fairly easily kill people. It isn’t really known whether fire damp caused the explosion, but if it is present, rescue operations will be risky.
Info from
BBC
bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11799086
The Telegraph
telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/8148042/New-Zealand-mine-explosion-British-workers-among-those-trapped.html