The world has been watching the situation outside the New Zealand Mine. Progress has been brought to a standstill, and the outlook is getting worse yet. The Pike River Mine has been found to consist of hazardous methane gas, which makes a rescue harder to pull off. It isn’t known if the New Zealand miners are even alive, and a rescue operation can be too hazardous to undertake.
Gas in New Zealand Mine regarded as hazardous
The conditions inside the New Zealand mine will determine whether a rescue of the 29 trapped miners will take place or not. Friday, Nov 12 was when the blast happened, reports the Telegraph. There was a lot of methane found within the air samples taken three days later. Mine explosions can occur because of methane which is commonly found in coal mining. The situation can be accessed just a little better after a bomb disposal robot is sent to the Mine. Fresh air is needed for the battery operated robot to function though. It might not work very well if it’s in a methane rich atmosphere.
May not work just like the Chilean Mine incident
Officials in Chili have had officials from New Zealand calling frantically for help. Since 33 men from the Chilean Mine accident were able to walk away, the Chilean officials ought to be of some use. However, the key difference is the Chilean Mine was a copper and gold Mine, and the Pike River coal Mine outside Greymouth is a coal Mine. The composition of coal ores makes it so dangerous gases like methane are released. This is what is hazardous about coal mines. New Zealand officials are keeping good mindset, however try to be realistic and “planning for all outcomes” including that lives might have been lost, according to USA Today.
No way to talk to the miners
No communications have yet been established with the trapped New Zealand miners. There has been a constant ring in the Mine with the phone line. Nobody has answered the phone. New Zealand is known for being safe when it comes to mining. Throughout the whole world, there have been fewer accidents than there were anywhere else.
Citations
The Telegraph
telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/8151428/New-Zealand-mine-relatives-told-to-brace-for-deaths.html
USA Today
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