By 3 News staff with NZPA
Check in throughout the day for up to the minute updates, interviews and photos.
Click on ‘view video’ to watch this morning’s special bulletin
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6:05pm: Russell Smith, one of the two survivors has spoken for the first time about the explosion and what went on underground.
He works at the Pike River Mine as a coal cutter at the coalface; on Friday he was an hour late for work and admits that it saved his life.
“As luck would have it I was late getting to work; I was an hour late so didn’t get up the mine until late. If I did I was probably up the face with the rest of them and would be trapped there,” he told 3 News this evening.
4:55pm: Media have reported details of 18 trapped miners: The names that have been reported so far are: Kane Nieper, Peter O’Neill, Joseph Dunbar, Milton Osborne, Blair Sims, Glen Cruse, Terry Kitchin, Zen Drew, Conrad Adams, Chris Duggan, Alan Dixon, Malcolm Campbell, Koos Jonker, Brendon Palmer, Pete Rodger, John Ufer, Benjamin Rockhouse and Michael Monk.
4:50pm: Listen to NZ Mine Rescue general manager Trevor Watts, Pike River mine CEO Peter Whittall and superintendent Gary Knowles speaking at the latest press conference.
4:18pm: Listen to RadioLIVE's Martin Devlin talk to Laurie Drew, whose son Zen is trapped in the mine by clicking on the audio tab above.
3:42pm: NZ Mine Rescue General Manager Trevor Watts says there are six mine rescue teams, with five men per team. They are on a 24 hour roster of eight hour shifts each. The men are from Huntly and Matahui mines.
3:20pm: NZ Mines Rescue Manager Trevor Watts has spoken about the rescue operation - reiterating that he will not be sending rescuers in until he is certain they will be safe.
3:15pm: The first pictures from the mine have emerged. You can see the entrance of the mine and the layout of the rescue hub.
3:05pm: A press conference is underway at Greymouth with Peter Whittall and Supt Gary Knowles.
2:35pm: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has released a statement saying her thoughts go out to those affected by this disaster.
“Our prayers are with the missing miners and their families after the November 19th explosion at the Pike River mine in New Zealand.
“Our Embassy in Wellington and Consulate General in Auckland are monitoring the situation closely and stand ready to provide technical assistance if necessary.
“I witnessed the courage and resilience of New Zealanders firsthand earlier this month, and it is my hope that all 29 men still inside are safe and will be rescued,” says Ms Clinton.
1:47pm: The British Foreign Office has confirmed two men from Scotland, Peter Roger, 40, and Malcolm Campbell, 25, are two of the trapped miners.
1:41pm: A Facebook page has been created to encourage people to light a candle at 9pm each night to show support for the miners and those set to undertake the rescue.
1:32pm: Greymouth Mayor Tony Kokshoorn says rescuers need “one vision” – the return of the Pike River Miners. He also believes a compromise may be reached over the release of the trapped miners’ names.
1:22pm: Drilling is set to begin this afternoon at the Pike River Coal Mine. Peter Whittall says they will drill a 15 centimetre hole about one hundred and fifty metres deep which could take between 16 and 24 hours to complete.
Families return from mine
12:51pm: The families of the 29 trapped miners have returned from visiting the mine. Two people from each family visited, accompanied by Peter Whittall. They families spent nearly three hours at the site.
12:32pm: Minister for Energy and Resources, Gerry Brownlee told TVNZ’s Q+A programme this morning he isn’t ready to accept the focus is on recovery as opposed to rescue.
“As Mr Whittall said yesterday, if he were in there and found clear air space with breathable air, he’d sit tight and wait for someone to come and get him. We have to continue on the basis that that’s exactly what the situation is,” he says.
Families arrive
10:49am: The families of the miners have reportedly arrived at the site of the mine.
Peter Whittall wanted the families to be able to visit the mine, so they could gain a greater understanding of the situation. He accompanied the group of two people from each family.
Drill on the move
10:24am: A large truck has just moved through the police cordon towards the mine. On board was a portable drill thought to be that which Peter Whittall referred to in the media conference. The machine will drill into the mine for air samples.
Mayor wants names released
9:55am: Mayor of Greymouth Tony Kokshoorn spoke at a media conference this morning about the names of the miners involved.
“This is tough, tough so I know we have to follow the advice from the police and Pike River mining…but I’m all for the disclosure of the names,” he said.
Mr Kokshoorn says there’s been a lot of speculation in town about who is in the mine. He thinks releasing the names would mean the people in town can get behind the families and give them the support they need. He stressed people need to be "realistic" but hold on to hope.
“Until we’re told otherwise, there is hope,” he said.
Mr Kokshoorn says he supports a robot being sent into mine as long as it is safe.
Families visit mine site
9:36am: The families of the 29 trapped miners are visiting the site today. 40 hours on from the explosion, Pike River CEO Peter Whittall says it’s important the families visit the area.
“We’ll be able to explain to them what’s going on, what’s happening up there. They’ll be able to get off, walk around, have a look at the emergency services in place there. It’s a touch and feel and talk to with those guys and understand what’s going on rather than just my words,” he says.
8:37am: Peter Whittall says fresh air is being pumped into the mine in the hope it reaches the miners. He says there is a breach in the pipe but they are hoping the air is still reaching the group.
Signs of combustion
Mr Whittall says there are definite signs of combustion within the mine, which is why there are still high levels of gas.
The Pike River CEO was asked about the company’s safety assessment procedures. He says he personally takes worker safety “very seriously” and says he emphatically trusts all the men he has working for him.
“I’m very confident in the people I’ve got.”
8:36am: Supt Gary Knowles said the families were distraught when they were told the rescue is still not ready to begin. It’s an anxious wait for them. The Sunday Star Times reported today that the father of one of the trapped men said “if I had my way, I’d be down there and I’d go into the mine myself. I’d go and look myself, gas or not.”
8:34am: Supt Gary Knowles addressed the media and says his team are still treating this situation as a rescue operation. They have been practicing all night and are on standby for the rescue. He said “the risk is huge” and he is still not prepared to put men in the ground.
8:32am: Mr Whittall told the media conference the difficulty in undertaking the rescue is the typography of the land and finding the best part to drill through. Those tests will be made today. The teams will drill a hole today to take samples of the air. He said the best case scenario for that testing is to begin later this evening. The drilling could take between 16 and 24 hours.
Morning press conference
8:15am: This morning’s press conference is now underway.
Pike River Coal CEO Peter Whittall says test samples from yesterday show there are still dangerous levels of methane and carbon monoxide in the mine. He says, however, those levels are “downward trending”.
Support for families
Mr Whittall says the company have accepted the services of Air New Zealand’s employee support.
Thirty staff have been flown to Greymouth to assist families. One person will be assigned to each family to help with support.
Mr Whittall says a drill has also been mobilized this morning. The drill will help provide further gas samples this morning.
8:05am: A press conference scheduled for 8am has been delayed. 3 News reporter Hamish Clark is in Greymouth and says the mood is somber.
He says no helicopters have taken off this morning to gather air samples, but police expect to conduct further tests.
Special church service
A special church service was held for the Greymouth community last night.
Candles were lit and and a minister asked the families of the trapped miners to dig deep and not give up hope.
Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee, Pike River Coal Mine CEO Peter Whittall and the families of the trapped miners met early this morning to discuss updates for today’s rescue effort.
Kiwi sports stars send support
7:46am: Kiwi athletes touring overseas have sent back messages of support for the trapped miners and their families.
The New Zealand Rugby Union’s president John Sturgeon is a member of the West Coast mining community.
"He is in contact with his family and friends back home and we are giving him our support also," says NZRU chief executive Steve Tew.
Early morning summary
Tests on the air quality in Pike River mine are set to resume this morning as rescuers impatiently wait to attempt to retrieve 29 trapped miners.
The 16 Pike River employees and 13 contractors spent their second night encased in the mine last night and fears are growing steadily for their wellbeing.
Toxic gas yesterday reached levels that were considered too high for search teams to enter into the mine.
A decision on when to enter the mine will hopefully be made this morning and there will be a media update at 8am.
Twenty-four New Zealanders, two Australians, two Britons and one South African have been out of contact with mine management since about 4pm on Friday afternoon.
Two men, who were working alone escaped the mine, Russell Smith, 50, and Daniel Rockhouse, 24.
They suffered moderate injuries but have now been discharged from Grey Base Hospital and have requested privacy.
Daniel Rockhouse's brother, Ben, is still trapped underground and the family has faced further tragedy with the brothers' grandfather "Rocky" dying suddenly on Friday night.
Laurie Drew, whose son 21-year-old, Zen, is trapped in the mine, said he wanted to hear solutions, not reasons why the rescue could not be done.
"If I had it my way I'd go in there, gas or not," the father, who was wearing his son's jacket, told One News.
He was also frustrated he was not allowed at the site, which was where he wanted to be, regardless of the outcome.
"I just want my boy home."
Greymouth District councillor Milton Osborne and promising rugby league player Blair Sims were two other New Zealanders trapped underground.
Tasman District police area commander Superintendent Gary Knowles said the rescue operation would be constantly reassessed, but the situation was complex and involved numerous risks.
"Everyone here is totally focussed on getting these men out and returning them to their families."
It is believed the workers are trapped about 2km along the tunnel that burrows horizontally into the side of a mountain, about 150 metres below the surface.
When word comes that it is safe to go in, the rescuers will have to negotiate 2.5km of underground tunnels while carrying equipment.
Pike River Coal chief executive Peter Whittall said the explosion damaged a ventilation shaft but the mine had natural ventilation because of the layout.
The miners also carried breathing gear that would have lasted up to an hour on their belts.
Mr Whittall said the compressed air line, although damaged in the explosion, was still pumping fresh air into the mine and was "flowing very freely".
Prime Minister John Key, at the mine with several senior ministers, promised the miners' families the Government would give them every possible support and that everything possible would be done to rescue "the 29 brave men".
"Obviously this is a time of huge anxiety and concern for the families and for the miners, so our hearts and thoughts go out to them. Again, we will provide them with whatever support we possibly can."
Mr Key said he had received a huge number of expressions of concern internationally, including an email from Prince William.
NZPA