Rescuers to drill into West Coast mine

[canetoad]

Source: stuff.co.nz

LATEST: Family of the 29 men trapped in a West Coast mine will be taken to the site today, as rescuers plan to drill into the mine.

There has been no communication from any of the 29 men trapped underground since a gas explosion at the West Coast coal mine about 3.30pm on Friday.

Pike River Coal chief executive Peter Whittall said this morning there was heating of ''some sort ''under ground - some combustion of material which was generating poisonous gases - still.

He said representatives from the families would be taken up to the mine this morning and they would be able to talk to rescue workers.



Read more: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4368715/Rescuers-to-drill-into-West-Coast-mine

---

This is the start of the next stage of a rescue attempt. It was anticipated that rescuers could start work at lunchtime yesterday (NZ time) but safety checks showed the presence of gases which delayed the effort.