19/11/2010 12:31
New Zealand mine blast leaves 30 missing
An explosion ripped through a coal mine in New Zealand on Friday and up to 30 workers were unaccounted for, police and the mining company said.
Local Mayor Tony Kokshoorn told New Zealand's National Radio that contact had been lost with up to 30 people at the mine.
Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee said the blast happened at about 3:45 p.m. and the last contact with any of the miners was about 4:15 p.m.
Brownlee said emergency exit tunnels were built into the mine but that he didn't know if they could be accessed by the miners.