Today's Pike River disaster ranks as the worst national mining disaster in 96 years since 43 coal miners lost their lives at Ralph's Mine, Waikato.

Some of the cars lined up outside the Do Duck Inn Bakery come and go, but others have not moved since Friday.

If you haven't got time to read all our in-depth coverage of the Pike River Mine disaster, here's a quick summary of five key things you need to know today.

Families at this morning's Pike River briefing were unhappy they were not shown blast footage until yesterday, a miner's father says.

Dramatic security camera film has revealed the scale of Friday's Pike River mine blast.

The only sign that the Pike River boss is feeling the strain are the dark bags under his eyes which sag lower by the day.

Relatives of the trapped miners reacted with disbelief and anger to news a robot had malfunctioned.

The robot sent into the Pike River Mine was operating outside of its primary role when it broke down.

The Police Commissioner Howard Broad echoed the feelings of all involved in the Pike River disaster, as it was revealed drilling on the mine bore hole was still hours from completion.

Sending a robot into the Pike River coal mine where 29 men are trapped was always a "long shot", an expert says.

After learning his stepson was one of the 29 trapped miners, Stephen Rose began carrying a 'worry stone' around with him.

The Defence Force robot was 'the bright spot' for those waiting on the rescue of 29 trapped miners and news it failed was 'a kick in the guts', the Grey District Mayor says.

The level of toxic gas in the Pike River mine is still too high after for rescuers to be sent in.

A robot sent into the Pike River mine malfunctioned when water fell onto it.

Pike River Coal says work on evaluating the impact on its West Coast mine of Friday's explosion is "down the line", as it focuses for now on finding the 29 men unaccounted for.