Pike River Mining Disaster

The Pike River mining disaster on Friday 19th November has shocked the whole of New Zealand, this is our own Black Friday.  Twenty-nine miners and contractors are trapped deep underground after an explosion of methane gas.  Incredibly, two people escaped.  One was Russell Smith, who  was running late for work, which he thinks is why he is still alive.  The explosion blew him off the loader he was driving, and knocked him unconscious.   A little earlier, Daniel Rockhouse had  left the rest of the miners about 3km inside the mine at the coal face, about 150m below the surface. He travelled back to refuel a loader about 1.7km into the mine, and found Russell Smith lying unconscious.  It took the two men an hour and a half to struggle out of the mine together and raise the alarm.  The exact sequence will be pieced together by investigators but it is thought the ventilators stopped working, allowing a build-up of gas. The gas then ignited, causing the massive blast shortly before 3.45pm.

Pike River Mine

Because of dangerous levels of methane gas and carbon dioxide gas still being detected, it has not yet been possible to allow recue teams to enter the mine.  However,  a New Zealand Army robot is on standby and it would be used first to check the area where an underground loader is thought to be blocking the access way.  Meanwhile, drilling is being done to provide a second place to take gas readings.  A special drill bit would be used for the last 10 metres to minimise the chance of any sparking when it breaks through into the mine drive below.  Depending on where the drill hole intersects the drive, laser and other imaging gear which can be lowered down the hole may provide more information about the situation deeper in the mine.  

Our thoughts are with the families involved, as they await for news of their loved ones trapped underground.