Third blast hits New Zealand mine (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

A third explosion has hit a New Zealand coal mine almost exactly a week after an initial blast trapped 29 miners.

Hopes of finding any survivors were dashed by a second huge explosion at the Pike River mine on Wednesday.

No-one was injured in the latest blast at the mine, which is filled with volatile gases.

Prime Minister John Key has warned it may take months to recover the men's bodies, and pledged an investigation, saying the nation "needs answers".

The latest blast happened at 1539 local time - almost exactly one week since the initial blast that caught the men - 24 New Zealanders, two Australians, two Britons and a South African.
***
more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11844502