If it seems like we kiwis have been a bit quiet lately, it's because we just lost 29 men in a coal mine explosion down on the West Coast, in an isolated, tight-knit community. In a small country, that's a big loss.

Black days in New Zealand, black as coal ...

I have been watching this on the news over here. I was hoping that they were going to get out but when the second explosion happened my heart sank. My condolences to anyone of our Kiwi friends that are affected by this tragedy.

have recent earth tremors caused a change of conditions in the mines causing gas pockets or is this just a coincidence? terrible for all concerned.

I was immediatelly sad when i heard such news from New Zealand They are like we Finn's, small nation, but can survie in harder conditions, so my heart is crying now....

My condolences to all the brothers of New Zealand.

It was terrible to hear the news this week and it is easy to forget that mining is still a risky business. I wish the families of the miners all the strength they can muster.

Mike

Only just seen this thread but . . . being from South Wales I can sympathise on a fundamental level. They were and are in my prayers

amongst the many casualties there was a 17yrs old boy, and his first day underground...talking about bad luck

Thanks to everybody for your condolences. It was a very sad time for our small country, and especially for the small and isolated community of the West Coast. By amazing luck, two of the shift survived. They were late for work, and were only a few hundred meters into the mine, hurrying to catch up with their mates, when the mine exploded. They survived the blast, and managed to get out. Their 29 mates were at the head of the mine, a couple of kilometers in. For many days were hoping we would be able to get in and rescue them, but the mine kept burning and exploding, and we realised they never stood a chance. We are now beginning to accept that their bodies may never be recovered.