3.45pm:First reports of explosion at Pike River mine, 50km north-east of Greymouth.
4.53pm: Emergency services begin to respond to the situation at Pike River.
5.09pm First unconfirmed reports of around 35 people trapped in the mine.
5.23pm: Police issue first statement to media saying they were at the Pike River Coal Processing Plant in Atarau, about halfway between Greymouth and Reefton. Police confirm there had been reports of an explosion.
5.29pm: Chairman John Dow refuses to comment when contacted by The Press, but says he has spoken to chief executive Peter Whittall who will comment soon.
5.51pm: First reports that two miners have surfaced; 33 still unaccounted for.
6.11pm: St John activates its national emergency response plans and say six ambulances are at the scene and three rescue helicopters are on the way from Nelson,Greymouth and Christchurch.
6.29pm: West Coastarea commander Inspector John Canning reports miners could be 1,500 metresunderground. Police were notified an hour after the men failed to report - aswas the practice in such emergencies. He says the mine rescue team hasbeen called in, with members coming in from around the West Coast.
6.54pm: Police say early indications are that there was a power outage at the mine late this afternoon. Police say an electrician went into the mine about 3.50pm to investigate the outage and discovered a loader driver who had been blown off his machine about 1500 metres into the mine shaft.
6.58pm: Reports of a body being removed from mine. This is later discounted by Pike River management. St John confirms two male patients have been taken to Grey Base Hospital with moderate injuries. Some of the missing miners' family gather at the mine entrance further up the private road waiting for news of their loved ones. Two rescue helicopters land at the scene. Police begin stopping vehicles at the private road leading into the mine, saying the road needs to remain clear for ambulances. He says 27 miners were on the shift and two have walked out and were being treated.
7.14pm: Pike River chief Peter Whittall says communication with the afternoon shift was lost at 4.10pm and he does not know of any fatalities. "My understanding there is no evidence of fatalities at this stage," he told Close Up.
7.19pm: Pike River chief executive Peter Whittall said he had not received any reports that someone was dead. Concerns raised that ventilation inside the mine shaft may be compromised by the power outage.
7.29pm: Police update says the two miners who escaped indicated three of their colleagues were also on their way to the surface. The mine entrance is about 2.2km long and then branches out into sub areas.
7.34pm: Energy minister Gerry Brownlee confirms he is heading to Greymouth tonight7.40pm: Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union national secretary Andrew Little said it was an ``incredibly anxious'' time for the miners' families. ``We've got a [union] organiser over there who is with families. The only thing we can do is provide support, which is what we are doing at this point,'' he said
7.53pm: Robin Kingston, archdeacon of the Greymouth and Kumara Anglican Church, said many of the church's parishioners were involved directly or indirectly with the Pike River Mine. "There is a significant amount of nervousness around at the moment. People have been asking for prayers for those they know who are not accounted for as yet."
7.58pm: A crisis unit is being set up at a Greymouth Red Cross base. Trucks carrying air vents have just crossed the cordon at the entrance to the mine and two utility vehicles carrying stretchers have also driven in.
8.01pm: A New Zealand Flying Doctor plane with five people on board - including medical staff and management - is about to take off from Christchurch Airport. Police spokeswoman Barbara Dunn says police officers have gone to Greymouth Hospital to interview the two miners who have emerged. St John has taken two patients to the hospital, both with minor injuries. Dunn has no further information on the men's conditions but says: "They did walk out so that's a good sign''.
8.02pm: Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee says the Government will offer whatever assistance is needed.
8.24pm: St John confirms it has set up for a "long operation”.
9.12pm: Pike River spokesman Dick Knapp, speaking at a cordon site about 12kms from the mine entrance, says 27 miners and contractors remain underground - 15 employees and 12 contractors. Families are being asked to gather at Moonlight Hall near Blackball to wait for news, and they will also receive support and information there.
9.29pm: Greymouth mayor Tony Kokshoorn, who also attended the conference, says it could take days before it is safe enough for the specialist rescue teams to re-enter the mine. "We are holding on to hope. Look at Chile, all those miners were trapped and they all came out alive.''
10.17pm: Police request Civil Defence and New Zealand Red Cross set up a Welfare centre in Greymouth to cater for families of the miners trapped.
10.24pm: One of the missing miners was last night named as Greymouth District councillor Milton Osborne. Greymouth mayor Tony Kokshoorn said Osborne was a contractor at the Pike River mine, and was among the 27 men unaccounted for after the explosion.
10.54pm: Labour Leader Phil Goff says he is praying for the trapped miners. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the miners, their families who are waiting anxiously for news and for the West Coast community which is shocked by the incident and its potential consequences."
DAY 2 - SATURDAY 20th November 2010
Update from overnight: Still no communication with any of the 29 trapped miners underground.
6.48am:Police announce a press conference for 8am with Superintendent Gary Knowles, the Tasman Police District Commander, and Peter Whittall, Pike River Coal chief executive. Rescuers are still at the mine site but have so far been unable to get underground or make contact with the miners and contractors trapped inside.
8.02am: Huge media contingent gathers for a press conference. Gerry Brownlee and Kate Wilkinson arrive.
8.17am: Peter Whittall says there are 29 people below ground. There were no prior concerns about methane gas. He says one advantage is a tunnel mine, instead of a mine shaft. Inspector Gary Knowles, Tasman police area commander vows to “bring the boys home.”
8.20am: Whittall says one miner who walked out was knocked to the ground by the explosion and knocked unconscious. Both miners who walked out are shaken with minor injuries, he says and have suffered shock.
8.21am:Whittall assures family they are doing all they can to bring the men out. He has no idea what has caused the methane explosion, and refuses to speculate on the reason.
8.25am: Whittall says the men underground will be within several hundred metres of each other.There's no predicting how they will be behaving underground. He hopesthey are sitting at the end of the fresh air vent, sitting tightand waiting for rescue. The company is monitoring air ventilation tothe mine, trying to get accurate gas samples. They can't risk sending menin, for fear to both rescuers and also as it may jeopardise the menunderground by causing a second explosion.
8.31am: Whittallsays he has no knowledge about the men underground being alive and he doesn'twant to speculate as to whether they are still alive. He says families arestressed and it is difficult to find all next of kin because many men aresingle and not from the West Coast. Families werebriefed at 7am this morning and have been hugging each other and holding hands."The miningindustry is close-knit. Watching and waiting and hoping for their loved ones toreturn."
8.34am: Pike RiverCoal chief executive Peter Whittall says the youngest man underground is 17while the oldest is 62-years-old. A mix of New Zealanders, Australians andBritish nationals make up the 29 men.
8.40am: Next pressconference and update is scheduled for 2pm.
9.41am: Police sayspecialist gas testing equipment has been flown in from Australia this morningto help with the rescue operation where 29 men remain trapped underground. 10.11am: Greymouthchurches will hold special services tonight to comfort families and topray for a successful outcome at the mine.
10.42am: A femalerelative of one of the trapped miners, who lives in Rutherglen, nearGreymouth, says it is "hard to do anything at themoment''. "All we can do is hope and pray,'' said the woman,who asked not to be named.
11am: GreyDistrict Mayor says one of those trapped underground is Blair Sims, a regularplayer in the centre or on the wing for the region's rugby league team. Simsreceived the West Coast Player of the Year Award the last two years running, aswell as being picked for the newly established South Island team this year.
12.04pm: Search andrescue staff set to enter West Coast mine after tests come back clear.
1.12pm: Police saythey are still awaiting tests before entering the mine, despite the mayorsaying the OK has been given. Search and rescue teams have not begun theirrescue yet.
2pm: Pressconference gets underway. Whittall says air quality tests from this morningwere inconclusive with no trends visible yet as not enough samples had beendone to be conclusive. Levels of methane, ethane and carbon monoxide arebeing tested.
2.06pm: PikeRiver chief executive Peter Whittall says families are more than welcome totalk to "anyone they wish to" and that there's no media ban.
2.10pm:Superintendent Gary Knowles, the Tasman Police District Commander who isleading the rescue effort, says: "We're ready to go, as soon as theenvironment changes... could happen overnight, it could happen in the nexthour. "I'm an eternal optiomist. I still think we're going to go down and findthese guys." "It is a very fine balance, not going to put 16 men underground and risktheir lives. Safety is paramount."
2.25pm: PrimeMinister John Key says "hearts and thoughts" go out to families. Hesays support has been offered from overseas, including an email fromPrince William.
3pm: The next mediabriefing is not expected to take place until 8am tomorrow. Stuff.co.nz willcontinue to update this story throughout the night.
4pm: Police withdrawteams checking air samples at the mine because of a drop in air quality.
5.30pm: Pike RiverCoal chairman John Dow repeats police comments on the prospect of a rescue thatnight, saying it was unlikely. 6pm: PoliceSuperintendent Gary Knowles, the Tasman Police District Commander and the manin charge of the rescue, says police will resume air testing in the morning.
7.35pm: Policeconfirm there will be no rescue attempt on Saturday(sic) (“Sunday”)
DAY 3 - SUNDAY 21st NOVEMBER 2010
7.26amSunday: All Blacks and Black Caps send message of support. Richie McCaw saystheir "hearts" go out to families and friends of miners.
8.10am:Police Superintendent Gary Knowles, the Tasman Police District Commander andthe man in charge of the rescue, leaves meeting with families and says they arestill focused on getting the men out.
8.15am:More than 150 media from around the world at latest press update.
8.19am:Pike River chief executive Peter Whittall said there is heating of ''some sort''under ground - some combustion of material which is generatingion poisonousgases.
8.20am:Pike River chief executive Peter Whittall says Pike River will be running representatives from families up to the mine in buses this morning.
8.22am:Pike River chief executive Peter Whittall says rig will drill down into the mine to take samples.
8.28am:Police Superintendent Gary Knowles, the Tasman Police District Commander andthe man in charge of the rescue, says families understand safety remainsparamount. 8.30am:Police Superintendent Gary Knowles, the Tasman Police District Commander andthe man in charge of the rescue, says "I am not going to put 16 guysunderground and risk losing them to effect a half-arsed rescue."
8.31am:Pike River chief executive Peter Whittall says ''we just don't know whatventiliation devices are still standing up.''
9.30am:Families of missing men leave Greymouth on buses for the mine site.
10am:Greymouth mayor Tony Kokshoorn says he wants names of the missing released.
10.02am:Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee said he was drawing hope from the Chilean rescue
10.12am:Families of missing men arrive at mine site.
10.18am:A large truck carrying drilling equipment arrived at cordon outside mine.
12:10pm:Buses carrying families leave the mine site
12:51pm:The buses carrying relatives of the trapped miners arrive back at the welfarecentre.
12.54pm:Labour leader Phil Goff arrives at the centre with MPs Rick Barker and DamienO'Connor.
2.00pmGrey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn says anxiety levels among the families ofthe miners were rising by the hour. "People are starting to despair, itson their faces." he said.
3.00pm Piker River chief executive Peter Whittal, police and NZ Mines rescue chief Trevor Watts hold a joint press conference in Greymouth. They reiterate a rescue will not get underway until the mine is declared safe.
10.00pm Mine safety experts will continue to monitor gas levels through the night. This will be the miners third night trapped underground.
DAY 4 - MONDAY 22nd NOVEMBER 2010
Day four begins.
The miners have spent three nights trapped underground.
7.16am Former Prime Minister Helen Clark has sent a message of support to the Pike River community. "My thoughts are with all the men trapped in the Pike River mine, and with their families and communities," she said via Twitter
7.30am Grey District mayor Tony Kokshoorn says a rescue needs to begin today for the sake of the trapped miners' families.
7.45am Prime Minister John Key tells Newstalk ZB he is due to take the Australian and British High Commissioners to the West Coast in about an hour.
8.10am Families of the 29 miners trapped underground in a coal mine have begun arriving at a meeting to update them on the rescue mission.
8.57am Greymouth mayor Tony Kokshoorn says a laser camera will be lowered into the mine down the bore hole.
9.00am Relatives begin leaving the morning briefing. Many clutch diagrams of the mine given to them by rescuers. Among the group is survivor Daniel Rockhouse, whose brother Ben is still inside.
10.00am A media briefing is told progress is "going well" on drilling at the mine. A robot will be put down into the mine. Seismic testing will be done to check for movement underground. A fibre optic cable will be put down the borehole.
10.30am: Police say the conservation department has agreed to cut out a path. Superintendent Gary Knowles reads the names and ages of the missing men. Prime Minister John Key says there's no question from family members that they're feeling "high levels of fear and frustration". Pike River chief executive Peter Whittall says there's no question that at the time of the event, an "unsafe" situation had developed.
11am: Key, along with families of the missing, depart to spend time up at the mine site. Drilling of the bore-hole reached 110m at 11am. Police say it will slow as it approaches target depth of 160 metres.
1pm: Buses carrying families have now left the Pike River mine after a two hour visit, along with John Key.
2.45pm: The latest gas report shows that there's a possibility heating underground still exists.
5.30pm: At the media press conference, police for the first time say they are planning for all outcomes, including the potential loss of life. However they say they remain positive and are "not stopping". Whittall says they're confident the robot will get through as soon as the gas levels allow. Positive results thus far.
6.10pm: Police relrsdalis some photos of the miners.
7.55pm: Further photos of the missing are released by police.
9.57pm: Police Incident Controller, Superintendent Kelvin Powell, saidcontact with the forward base minutes ago indicated the drilling operation hadgot down to a depth of 142 metres however the crews had encountered heavy rockformations and a break through was still some hours away.
DAY 5 - TUESDAY 23 NOV 2010
Twice-daily briefings are being held at the Grey district council offices byemergency services and Pike River Coal managers.Drilling a hole progressed overnight and with plans to lower in cameras onceit is finished there is new hope of getting a first look of the interior of themine.
7.52am: The families of 29 coalminers trapped underground for their fifthday are beginning to arrive to hear the latest news from rescuers.
9.20am: The rescue robot has been sent into the Pike River mine but failed due to mechanical issues after encountering water, family members confirmed to media after their briefing.
9.30am: Mayor Tony Kokshoorn was at the family briefing and is talking torelatives outside.
9.39am: Lawrie Drew, father of trapped miner Zen, said the robot had enteredthe mine but failed. He said families were angry at the lack of a back-up.''Realistically they should have had a second one there.''
10.05am: The planned 10am press conference is running late10.07am: A new community drop-in centre at the Salvation Army Citadel at 147Tainui Street has been opened to provide the people of Greymouth additionalsupport. The drop-in centre is a place where the community can get up-to-dateinformation on the rescue effort as well as accessing support services.
10.40 am: At the press conference it was revealed a rescue team member hadto be evacuated, injured during drilling. He has sprained ankle. Police say the robot, which broke down 550m in to the mine, will no longerbe used. Options for replacements from the United States and Western Australiaare being considered. Police say "The longer it goes on, hopes fade and we have to berealistic" . Chief executive Peter Whittall says the bore hole is 142m deep - anddrillers estimate it will be five hours before it gets through. Whittall has pointed out all the different areas where the men were working,spread out across the mine tunnel network. A new hole planned is very close to where they believe some men were workinghowever no new drill rig is yet on site.
1pm: Reports that a second robot is at the scene. Defence ministerconfirms it is there but is "unlikely" to be used today. Two furtherrobots are expected to arrive from Western Australia and United States2pm: St Matthew in-the-city is offering Aucklanders space to have a personalvigil, light candles and pray for the miners
2.30pm Police minister Judith Collins will speak at the next media briefingat 5.30pm tonight.
3pm: Grey District Mayor, when discussing the Australian robot, says:"It would tell us if they're dead or alive - it's that simple."
4pm: Video of the explosion is expected to be released by mine officials atthe
5.30pm press conference. Families attend their briefing where they're shown the footage.5.30pm: The media briefing has been delayed by around 20 minutes as the family briefing has run over time.
5.55pm: Father of missing miner Zen Drew, Lawrie Drew, says footage was"informative and enlightening".6pm: At the press conference, police say the footage of the blast"was continuous and the frightening thing is, it was probably up to 2.5km from the source." They confirm the situation is "bleak". Police minister Judith Collins says she believes the police have done a fantastic job while Police Commissioner Howard Broad says the mine is an extremely dangerous situation - "I can't stress that enough".
6.15pm: CEO Peter Whittall says drilling experienced significant delay andis now at 145-150m mark with 10m to go. A Camera was lowered to 'fresh air' space and showed minor damage to area. No sign of miners.
6.18pm: Video of footage from explosion shown to gathered media.Whittall says it's 'not new' but strong symbol of the 'violence' of the explosion. He says he didn't deliberately withhold the footage, but 'time has coupled with the magnitude of the blast'.
6.25pm: Press conference finishes.
DAY 6 – WED 24th NOV 2010
6am: Confirmation that the first robot, which had broken down, was restarted and went to 1000m before it ran out of battery. A second NZDF robot is now in the mine while a third, flown in from Australia, arrived at Hokitika
8am: Families of trapped miners gather to get latest details on the rescue plans. The next media briefing will take place at 10am.
9.30am: Families have emerged from briefing, say there wasn't much to update, gases still volatile, anger is building about delays in rescue attempts.
9.45am: Mayor confirms that bore-drill has broken through. A lot of hot air has rushed up the small bore shaft
10.15am: Press conference gets underway. Police spokesman confirms robot has recorded footage. It's currently being analysed and might be released later today after family have seen it. Second robot has half an hour of time left in terms of capabilities. Footage will be analysed from that today too. The gas information collected shows that levels "are off the limit", unsafe, still not appropriate for rescue teams to go down.
10.25am CEO says drilling overnight was successful, the hole was deeper than expected. "As expected, air that came out was very high in methane and carbon monoxide, low in oxygen." The cap lamp of one survivor was found, still working. "Manufacturer will be happy to hear that," says Whittall. After some heated questioning from journalists, the press conference ends.Next one is due for 5pm today.
10.30am Whittall says they got poor quality footage from bore-hole camera."It's pretty much just black... it doesn't show that anyone is there". Whittall's daughter, in Wellington, had asked her Dad to wear a badge honouring victims. He thanks friends for support, many he hadn't spoken to in more than 20 years. He can't comment on whether the gas levels were survivable.
11.02am John Key is confirmed as returning to Greymouth tomorrow.
11.45am: Energy minister Gerry Brownlee speaks out against Australian journalist Ean Higgins – labelling him a ‘tosspot’ after he asked an ‘offensive’ question. Brownlee says the editor of the newspaper that the journalist represents – The Australian – should be held to account.
12.35pm: Police Commissioner Howard Broad speaks at parliament and says there was only a "glimmer of hope" for survivors. He says it could take quite a long time before the environment underground at the site was safe enough for rescuers to enter
4.55pm: Announcement that a devastating second explosion has occurred at the mine at 2.37pm and all 29 miners are believed to be dead. Pike River Coal CEO Peter Whittall addresses the media after alerting families of the blast.
6.30pm: Prime Minister John Key calls the disaster a national tragedy.
