Bodies Of Victims Of Coal Mine Explosion In New Zealand That Happened 11 Years Ago Found

Illustration - Coal mine (ANTARA PHOTOS)

JAKARTA - A number of human remains have been found in a coal mine in New Zealand. 11 Years ago, this was New Zealand's worst industrial disaster.

Twenty-nine people died after a series of explosions triggered by methane gas hit the Pike River mine on the west coast of the South Island in November 2010. Two others managed to escape.

The mine was then closed for years due to safety reasons. The investigation team finally opened access to the mine in 2019 following pressure from the miners' families.

Police said pictures taken last week during drilling at the mine site confirmed two bodies and possibly a third.

However, the bodies were far from the mine entrance and could not be found.

"While we cannot identify the bodies, we are working with the forensics team to see what we can do to confirm their identities," said investigator Peter Read, Wednesday, November 17.

The investigative team believes that there were six to eight people working in the area where the bodies were found, he said.