New Zealand Mining Disaster.

[Kiwi Phil]

6 days ago there was an underground explosion, and rescuers couldn't enter the mine due to gasses (methane, CO2 etc), and yesterday boom!!, a bigger explosion still.
They have now declared all 29 men couldn't have survived.
2 did manage to survive, but they were in a different area.
Interesting story on how luck works for some tho.

What is unique, the tunnel is pretty much horizontal, and 2 km long in a big hill.

The 1st blast was described like a giant flame flashing down a gun barrel, except it went for 2,000 meters and the dust roared out the entrance for just under 1 minute.(they got fixed video camera there).

The 2nd bang yesterday they say was much bigger and they won't release footage of it at the entrance.
A helicopter pilot above the hill happened to have a video on, and they won't release what he caught on film either. I am only guessing, but they had drilled a hole from the top of the hill into the main working cavity (at end of the 2 km tunnel).

Anyway it has hit this small remote community hard

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/pike-river-mine-disaster

Cheers
Phillip

 

[gibletts]

Re: New Zealand Mining Disaster.

I believe search and rescue personal were preparing to enter the mine about the same time as the second explosion, probably a lucky escape for them.

 

[Tyme2fish]

Re: New Zealand Mining Disaster.

Terrible disaster.

 

[rbh]

Re: New Zealand Mining Disaster.

Methane, the biggest killer of coal miners.
Methane = natural gas, and when there is enough parts per million, grab your azz and kiss it good bye.
My family was all hard rock miner's in the late 1800 early 1900, gold, silver, zinc, copper.
Thank god not coal, to unstable at that time and even now.


(open pit may be different)

 

[stic88]

Re: New Zealand Mining Disaster.

I work at an open pit mine and my thoughts and prayers go out to the souls that are in the mine and their families. it is a dangerous business. My heart is saddend by this tragedy.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: New Zealand Mining Disaster.

If you watch the 1st video,(down Left hand side), just remember, the hole (ventilation shaft) is, I believe, approx 150m deep, and it looks maybe 4-6 foot in diameter, so when you see what comes out of it....well...pretty amazing

Cheers
Phillip

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/pik...34/Device-goes-underground-as-criticism-grows