Post date: Nov 24, 2010 5:36:33 PM
New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key says his country is mourning after a second explosion rules out any hope of finding any of 29 trapped miners alive.
NEW ZEALAND-MINE - "This afternoon New Zealand has been devastated by the news we've all been dreading. A second explosion at the Pike River mine confirms our very worst fears. The 29 men whose names and faces we've all come to know, will never walk amongst us again."
New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key delivers the crushing news of the miners' fate to his nation.
A second explosion on Wednesday has all but ended hopes of finding any of the 29 men- trapped since an initial blast on Friday- alive.
Key said New Zealand was a nation in mourning.
Families of the trapped men attended a church service in Greymouth, as hope turned to sorrow.
Authorities refused to send rescue teams in after the first explosion for fear of endangering more lives.
The father of one of the victims said the company that runs the Pike River Mine could have done more.
FATHER OF MISSING MINER ZEN DREA, LAWRENCE DREW:
"The company got what it wanted. They had the window of opportunity that Friday night and now the truth can't come out because no one alive will be able to come out and tell the truth."
Earlier on Wednesday rescuers sent a robot into the mine to explore for life.
A crushed helmet was found but there were no signs that any miners survived the initial blast.
Officials have promised a range of inquiries into the tragic accident will begin immediately.
Simon Hanna, Reuters.