At least 36 miners were missing after an explosion in a coal mine in New Zealand, the women entrepreneurs by launching search operations.
Two miners survived the explosion, but nothing is known about the other 36 miners, who were underground when the accident occurred, said the mining company’s general manager, Peter Whittall.
The explosion occurred Friday afternoon, around 4:30 pm local time, in a coal mine in Pike River, police said. According to the mayor, police, rescue helicopters and ambulances arrived at the scene.
A specialized rescue team was on the spot and tries to locate the missing miners.
A police spokesman confirmed that 36 miners are missing. “Two miners have left the mine area and receiving medical care,” said Peter Whittall.
The explosion disrupted power supply in the Pike River mine, hampering the search operations.
“There isn’t good news,” said Mayor Tony Kokshoorn, after he initially announced that disappears between 25 and 30 miners.
New Zealand Minister of Mines, Gerry Browlee, announced that the Government will do everything possible to rescue the miners, explaining that mine is solid and has an effective ventilation system. The mine is owned by New Zealand Oil and Gas and by the Indian groups Gujarat NRE Coke and Saurashtra Fuels Private.
The accident occurred after the closure of the Wellington stock exchange. But the Australian Stock Exchange, the Pike River Coal shares fell by 14 percent.
In 1896, a mine explosion Zealand Brunner has killed 65 miners, being the worst accident in history.
On October 13, in Chile, 33 miners were driven underground after more than two months.
