A second explosion has rocked the NZ mine where 29 men are trapped and authorities have told their families that none of them would have survived.
The man in charge of the rescue operation, Superintendent Gary Knowles, said that he was at the mine when the blast occurred, and it was "horrific".
"Unfortunately I have to inform the public of New Zealand that at 2.37pm [12.37pm AEDT] today there was another massive explosion underground and based on that explosion no one survived," Superintendent Knowles said.
Superintendent Knowles has broken the news to the families, who were "distraught".
"It is our belief that no one has survived," Superintendent Knowles said.
He said the men had "perished".
"We are now going into recovery mode."
Distraught family members left a scheduled briefing a short time ago, only about 10 minutes after it had started and many of them in tears.
Lawrie Drew, the father of trapped miner Zen Drew, said officials had told the families that there had been a second explosion.
Superintendent Knowles said it was one of the most horrific things he has had to deal with as a policeman.
"We had to break the news to the family and they are extremely distraught.
"I was at the mine myself when the explosion occurred. The blast was horrific. Just as severe as the first blast - and we are now moving into a recovery mode."
Grey District mayor Tony Kokshoorn broke down as he left the family briefing.
Earlier, it was reported that the possibility that no mine or rescue teams will ever enter the New Zealand mine where 29 men remain trapped is being considered by authorities.
Superintendent Gary Knowles, who is in charge of the rescue operation in Greymouth, said a fire continued to burn inside the Pike River Coal mine and there were concerns about the high levels of methane and carbon monoxide.
Asked whether it would ever be safe for rescue workers to enter the mine, where the miners have been trapped since Friday, Superintendent Knowles conceded that "it may never reach that point".
He also said: "While I can understand [the families'] frustration, we are doing everything possible to go underground. Obviously over time, hopes diminish."
Abandoned mines on New Zealand's west coast continue to burn for decades after they were closed to mining.
The mine's chief executive, Peter Whittall, said the gases that escaped from the bore hole contained carbon monoxide, methane and very little oxygen.
"As we expected, although not as families hoped ... the air that came out of the hole was extremely high in carbon monoxide, very high in methane and fairly low in oxygen," he said.
Sending a rescue team down the mine at this stage would only endanger the lives of rescuers as well as the trapped miners, Mr Whittall added.
"I think everyone in the room knows we're going to get as many guys out as we can," he said.
"If it's 29 that's great, if it's not, we'll deal with that."
Drilling of a small vertical bore shaft broke through earlier today and hot air and gas rushed up the hole.
"It had hot gas rushing up it and a lot of hot air as well," New Zealand Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee confirmed.
"It will give a very good picture of ... the heat state. They are looking for a heat source.
"It is very significant information to the rescue planning," he told NewstalkZB,
A robot sent down into the mine captured footage of a miner's hat with the light still on, Superintendent Knowles said.
"It's pretty amazing that it was still working underground," he said.
A second robot from New Zealand Defence is still in the tunnel but did not have much functioning time left.
A third robot from Australia arrived this morning and would be tested later today, Superintendent Knowles said.
Mr Whittall said officials had a "sobering" meeting with families today.
"There's obviously a very large understanding among the group that the gases we are finding from this borehole ... the length of time ... is making their hopes diminish and making it more difficult for them to hold out that hope that all 29 of those are waiting for us as we have hoped from day one," Mr Whittall, who appeared haggard and drawn, said.
"I certainly hope they're waiting for us down there. I certainly hope I see them again."
After three days of drilling through rugged terrain and dense rock, crews finally broke through to the mine at 7am (5am AEDT) today.
Officials had yet to determine whether a camera could be sent down the bore hole, Mr Whittall said.
Mr Whittall said footage from the first robot had not shown any sign of the miners.
"It doesn't show you anyone is there, it doesn't show you that anyone was there," he said.
Reports four of the miners were in a safer area were not true, Superintendent Knowles stressed.
"A lot of comments you have made are not helpful and distressing for the families," Superintendent Knowles said during a heated exchange with reporters.
- with AAP and stuff.co.nz
Source: The Canberra Times
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