New Zealand miner families wait anxiously

The brave rescue teams face a harrowing two-hour walk each carrying up to 24 kilograms of equipment into the mine to search for their trapped ''brothers''. One of the missing men is one of their own - a mines rescue worker. But the situation is so dangerous one worker taking samples from the mine surface on Saturday had to be evacuated. As soon as the poisonous gases have reduced to safe levels in the chambers, the rescuers assembled at the mine entrance will make their painstaking descent. ''The logistics of deployment underground are quite vast,'' Trevor Watt, the general manager of NZ Mine Rescue, said. ''We're talking 2.5 kilometres from the portal to the first intersection in the mine that will have to be done on foot by the rescue teams - this is not like walking down to the local supermarket.'' His greatest worry is the ''explosive atmosphere'' in the mine. Once in the mine breathing equipment will give rescuers just enough time to travel the length of the tunnel. It may take up to two hours to navigate the path on the reconnaissance mission. ''This will be a staged entry into the mine. We will be securing areas in the mine but I must reiterate it's going to be safety first.'' Mr Watt was vague on what would happen once the men reached the end of the tunnel, however. ''We have strict protocols on how we work … and we'll have systems in place … [for how] we manage the time frames they are working in. ''The rescuers will carry 14-kilogram ''rebreather'' apparatus, plus up to 10 kilograms of essential kit. But the operation would not allow any individuals who volunteered to risk their lives and enter the mine - this could ''exacerbate'' the situation, he said.