The backgrounds of the missing men are as wide and varied as their ages, hailing from as far abroad as Scotland and Africa. Meet the miners.

The Pike River mine blast has made global headlines, with two Britons, two Australians and a South African are among the 29 missing.

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.

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.

He avoided yesterday's Pike River blast by minutes - now a miner waits for news of trapped workmates.

Mining companies around the world face a constant struggle to avoid accumulations of methane gas and coal dust underground.

Rescue crews will face a number of challenges as they work towards accessing the area where 29 coal miners are believed to be trapped.

Since its announcement in 2005, the Herald has tracked the progress of the Pike River coal mine.

The two men who managed to get out of the Pike River mine clambered up a narrow chimney to escape.

29 miners remain trapped underground after yesterday's blast at Pike River Coal's West Coat mine.

The Herald's energy reporter, who has visited Pike River, reflects on the project's delays, and now disaster.