Raw video: Fire blazes at Pike River mine

Aerial flyover of the Pike River mine site reveals the flames leaping from the ventilation shaft.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• new zealand
• nzherald
• pike river miners
• greymouth
• coal fire

[BladesOfMunch]

@NZtrillion Mining is a career with risks, as are many in which men risk their lives. Consider the following: it's possible that funding could have been an initial issue; however it doesn’t hold anyone specifically accountable. Perhaps the deaths could have been avoidable, yes – however, the deaths certainly weren’t intended. Therefore, to conspire it as “murder” [in the absence of sufficient evidence] only satisfies a confirmatory bias toward a belief that may not reflect reality.

[BladesOfMunch]

I don’t understand why there is still talk of recovering bodies from this mine; without meaning to offend, after multiple explosions and a fire, what can one expect to find [in terms of remains]? The mine has been deemed unsafe and realistically, one would not want more casualties, yet 2 months on, some still demand a recovery.

[AntiIgnorantDimwit]

@BladesOfMunch Aye, and responsibility also rests on those who choose to work in such places. Often workers, and especially blokes, are full of opinions (about everything from rugby to the worst beer to big or small tits) and if they think there is problem in their workplace they should unite and demand fixes from their employers or go to the media.

[NZtrillion]

@BladesOfMunch

basically the mining company, their investors and the NZ govt, have got away with murder. the mine wasnt fitted with a back up power supply, or alarms. the power turning the extraction fans went out and the gas built up without them realising. is it coincidence that the company was losing a lot of money (millions) on this mine, and was insured for 100 million a very short time before the 'accident' ?

these guys died to line someone else's pockets. it's a scandal.

[BladesOfMunch]

@NZtrillion Having said this, I hope you understand that I am not discarding the unfortunate loss. It IS a disaster with consequences for those who lost their loved ones. However, perhaps they are all best to invest more time on their own psychological recovery. The first step would be “acceptance”; best to begin with the facts laid out in rational order. These men may have died, but they left an impression on their loved ones and on the nation.

[BladesOfMunch]

@NZtrillion Unrealistic perspective when the situation consisted of 2 dangerous gases, a limited oxygen supply, and a slow rescue strategy that was dependent on the mine's unpredictable conditions. The time limit to rescue them all was not enough: in their shoes, I see a pointless effort in attempting to recover bodies that may now be minimal or nonexistent. My closure would be to ensure the mine was not open to work in again and to ensure a memorial.

[NZtrillion]

@BladesOfMunch

obviously families want closure. put yourself in their shoes.

also, it's a crime scene. what if they hadnt died from the fire or explosion, but from not being rescued?

[LeinMarjo]

If thats the only ventilation schaft, then they are dead

[thembalmer]

those poor souls!