A powerful gas explosion occurred at one of New Zealand's largest coal mines, and Friday night, rescue crews waited impatiently to begin their search for twenty-seven miners still within. Fears that pockets of methane gas were still present and could ignite delayed the rescue crews. It could be days before specialists can begin the rescue. An electricity failure may have caused the gas to build up, and the failure has made it difficult to pump fresh air into the mine shaft. Teams were preparing for a rescue on Saturday but it was unclear whether it would happen. The condition of the miners is unknown but it is hoped that they are still alive if trapped like the Chilean miners. There are emergency tunnels in the mines but it is unclear whether the miners could access them.
For the full article go to: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101119/ap_on_bi_ge/as_new_zealand_mine_explosion
By: Sam Nielsen
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