Hope fading for trapped miners in NZ
ABCTONY EASTLEY: Plans to send a defence force robot into the damaged coal mine in New Zealand have been shelved, further eroding hope that the 29 men inside the mine will be found alive. PHILIPPA MCDONALD: Greymouth is a town which relies heavily on mining and the Pike River mine was welcomed as a major employer and a boost for the economy at the time of an economic downturn. PHILIPPA MCDONALD: Mine disasters have touched this community before and the memories of the Strongman tragedy in 1967, where 19 miners died, are raw and this miner holds grave fears for the men. PHILIPPA MCDONALD: While some New Zealand geologists have warned about the dangers of the level of methane in the region Mr Brownlee says the safety record is no worse than Queensland's. PHILIPPA MCDONALD: And everyone's hoping that this time nature has spared the 29 miners deep within the Pike River mine.
History of this topic
NZ mourns as mine investigations begin
ABC
Second blast dashes hope for miners
ABC
Rescuers cling to hope as drill enters mine
ABC
Don't lose hope, Brant Webb tells mine families
ABC
Rescuers won't risk entering collapsed mine
ABC
Rescuers still waiting for clearance to enter mine
ABC
Australians among trapped miners
ABCDiscover Related