![Pike River: Flame burns until men come home](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=799)
Pike River: Flame burns until men come home
An NZ Mines Rescue member wants the public to understand what the rescue team members are going through.
An NZ Mines Rescue member wants the public to understand what the rescue team members are going through.
One of the miners who died at Pike River told a friend he feared for his safety in the month before last week's explosion.
Broadcaster Maggie Barry, whose cousin Michael Monk was lost at the Pike River mine, understands when people asked counsellors "funny" questions.
A trip to the Pike River coal mine provided a sense of closure for some of the lost miners' relatives.
"What gave armchair critics the right to criticise and worse - accuse the rescuers of deliberately sitting on their hands?"
"We pray that their moment of fear becomes eternal peace," said Monsignor Gerry O'Connor during an emotional tribute to the Pike River miners in Greymouth.
Families of the dead men due to be bused to the Pike River mine tomorrow will still go, despite a third explosion at the mine this afternoon.
There has been a third explosion at the Pike River mine this afternoon. The blast occurred at 3.39pm and lasted for 23 seconds.
A third robot that has gone 1575m into the Pike River coal mine has detected debris and destruction indicating Wednesday's blast was much more violent than the first one.
It is likely to be several more days before operations will start to stabilise the Pike River mine so that the bodies of 29 men can recovered, police say.
A Pike River Relief Fund Trust has been established for the families of the 29 men who died in the Pike River coal mine.
Liquid nitrogen could be used to stabilise the situation in the Pike River mine, experts told the Science Media Centre.
The ACC will ensure money is the least of the worries for the families of the Pike River 29, says ACC Minister Nick Smith.
He has to accept he has lost a son. But Marty Palmer won't give up until his son's body is back with the family so they can mourn properly.
Even the biggest concert of the year acknowledged the sombre mood of the nation. U2's Bono said the band felt privileged to be
Police Commissioner Howard Broad today praised the work of Superintendent Gary Knowles, the police officer who led the mission to rescue 29 miners.
Check here for developments in the wake of the Pike River mine disaster today.
Pike River CEO Peter Whittall expressed his regret today at how he initially delivered his news to the families of the 29 miners lost in the disaster.
Levels of dangerous gases at the Pike River mine are still high and rescuers are unable to enter to recover the bodies of 29 trapped men, police said this afternoon.