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.

The day before he went down the mine for the first time, Joseph Dunbar turned 17.

The family of Aussie miner Willy Joynson is clinging to hope the father of two is still alive.

Rescuers are racing to reach 28 men trapped in a coal mine in southern China.

Missing miner Stuart Mudge loves the industry for the hard work and mateship it provides.

It's been revealed a member of the mine rescue team is among those trapped. Officials say gas levels inside the mine are falling, but unstable.

Praying for a miracle, hundreds attended church services in Greymouth on Sunday morning.

There is a growing sense of despair among the families of the 29 miners who have been trapped at Pike River since Friday.

The hole being drilled by Pike River mine rescuers could allow the miners to communicate with people on the surface.

Families of the 29 men trapped in the Pike River coal mine near Greymouth on the West Coast are being taken to the site.

While residents gather and families worry, hospital staff and funeral directors prepare themselves for all scenarios.

West Coasters are known for their fighting spirit, which has been tested to the extreme this weekend.

A second night passes with no word from the 29 trapped miners in the Pike River mine. Families cling to hope as experts fear the worst.

There will be no attempt to rescue 29 miners trapped in a West Coast mine tonight, with no further air quality sampling until tomorrow.

As the West Coast holds its breath in hope for the 29 missing miners, the local league community is thinking of Blair Sims and his family.

West Coast mine blast survivor suffers a double tragedy after his brother was trapped, and his grandfather died.

An Australian mine expert says there is no urgent need to reach the trapped miners "at this point in time", backing the Pike River rescue approach.

West Coasters went about their business today hoping for the best but painfully aware of the grim record of tragedies in mining.

With luck, the country will receive news that the brave 29 are back above ground and telling tall tales over a beer.

Police say a bid to rescue or recover 29 miners trapped in a West Coast coal mine is on hold, and could begin at any time over the next two days.