Tasmanian Mine Collapse
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there nearly 1km underground
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Little hope for trapped miners
RESCUE teams working to save three miners trapped inside a Tasmanian gold mine are sending cameras into the blocked shaft.
Beaconsfield Gold mine spokesman Matthew Gill said the cameras would be used to assess the damage as it was too dangerous to send in men.
"The situation is still dangerous to the point where we are unable to access the immediate area," he said today.
"We are currently rigging up a machine with a camera to go in remotely to get closer to the site.
"There is a second line of action which is the drilling of a second drive, but that will take some time ... our priority is, in all efforts, in the search and rescue and we are doing everything possible.
"The area in question doesn't have rescue chambers, that isn't an issue at this point in time."
A specialist mine rescue team has been mobilised and 10 personnel are on site.
But earlier today, Police Inspector Paul Reynolds said no attempt would be made to enter the mine until seismic tests showed the site was stable.
A 2.1 magnitude earthquake is believed to have triggered a rockfall that trapped the men last night.
"At this stage there is nothing new to report, the mine is still working to ensure the stability of the area where the rockfall has occurred and obviously rescue attempts are inhibited by that," Insp Reynolds said.
"Until the area is stable we can't get any closer to where the rockfall occurred."
Tests will plot the area's seismic activity, but no further tremors are believed to have occurred since the earthquake last night.
Insp Reynolds said the mine was equipped with radio facilities, but they would have been destroyed in the rockfall and no contact had been made.
"I can say that our concerns are grave," he said.
The father of one of the miners this morning told of his family's torment as the hours passed without news.
Noel Russell confirmed his son Todd, who is in his early 30s, was among those trapped about 1km underground at the Beaconsfield Gold Mine, 40km northwest of Launceston.
The trio became trapped about 9.30pm (AEST) yesterday.
"My son is one of the boys trapped down there, so I don't want to say too much at the moment," Mr Russell said today.
When asked how the family was coping with situation, he said "very tough".
Chris Rundle, who runs the local Club Hotel, said Todd was a close friend and a keen Australian Rules footballer with the Tamar Cats.
"I am doing okay. I don't know a lot at the moment," he said.
Mr Rundle said he had contacted the local council to offer the services of his hotel to those involved in the rescue.
"I was thinking that maybe the kitchen could cook up something for the rescue workers," he said.
The miners were 925m underground when they lost contact and were known to be in the vicinity of the rockfall.
The mining company, Beaconsfield Gold Mine Joint Venture, said today it had "grave concerns for their wellbeing".
Resource Minister Bryan Green said the trapped miners had been drilling when a "significant" amount of rock had fallen.
He described the event as a tragedy and said his heart went out to the men's families.
The mine had been closed and Workplace Standards would conduct an investigation to determine "if and when" it could reopen, he said.
Barry Easther, the mayor of West Tamar, said the local council was doing all it could to organise support for the miners' families.
"It's a devastating time in the local community," he said on Channel 9.
"We all live on hope, but it's a bad rockfall.
"Thankfully the other miners who were underground at the time have come to the surface safely.
"We have to brace ourselves as a community and pull together."
It's believed 14 miners were under ground when the earthquake hit, but most scrambled to safety.
Beaconsfield service station owner Craig Seen said he believed the other two miners trapped were from Launceston.
"One is a local from this area and the other two are from Launceston," he said on Channel 9.
Mr Seen said the town was behind the miners and their families, but residents were preparing for the worst.
"We would always live in hope, and you'd hope that some minor miracle would happen, but it doesn't look like it at this stage," he said.
"(It's) very very tough. The whole town will be behind them."
He said all of Beaconsfield felt the tremor last night.
"I don't believe there was any explosion because of Anzac Day. I don't believe they were blasting yesterday," he said.
"But the whole town from about 5km away felt the tremor about 9.30 last night ... all the houses shook in the area."
West Tamar Deputy Mayor Max Burr said the tight-knit community was in a state of angst.
"(It's) absolutely horrendous, there will be a lot of concern, not only in Beaconsfield, but all around Tasmania everywhere," he said.
"It is a major concern and all you can do is feel for the families and the miners who are down and hope they're okay.
"Certainly there would be a lot of ... angst in the local community because whoever they are, they would be well known within the local community.
"I am quite hopeful that the community will be hoping and praying that the people get out all right, that would be the immediate response. I am quite sure there would be a lot of optimism they can get out alright."
However, in an interview with Southern Cross Broadcasting, Mr Easther confirmed no contact had been made with the three trapped men.
"I believe that is the case. The mine are getting rescue equipment down there as we speak," he said.
"I haven't heard anything this morning as to how they are progressing. They would obviously be progressing as quickly as they can, but of course taking into consideration the dangerous conditions that obviously exist where they need to be."
The company said the Department of Mines and the Department of Workplace Standards had been notified.
Beaconsfield resident Mick Wain said his whole house "shuddered and bucked" and the windows and doors had rattled when the earthquake hit.
"This is not the first time these things have happened," he said on Channel 7.
A support centre for relatives and friends of the miners has been established at the West Tamar Council Chambers in Beaconsfield.
Concerned friends and family can contact an emergency hotline on 03 6383 6355.
Little hope for trapped miners
RESCUE teams working to save three miners trapped inside a Tasmanian gold mine are sending cameras into the blocked shaft.
Beaconsfield Gold mine spokesman Matthew Gill said the cameras would be used to assess the damage as it was too dangerous to send in men.
"The situation is still dangerous to the point where we are unable to access the immediate area," he said today.
"We are currently rigging up a machine with a camera to go in remotely to get closer to the site.
"There is a second line of action which is the drilling of a second drive, but that will take some time ... our priority is, in all efforts, in the search and rescue and we are doing everything possible.
"The area in question doesn't have rescue chambers, that isn't an issue at this point in time."
A specialist mine rescue team has been mobilised and 10 personnel are on site.
But earlier today, Police Inspector Paul Reynolds said no attempt would be made to enter the mine until seismic tests showed the site was stable.
A 2.1 magnitude earthquake is believed to have triggered a rockfall that trapped the men last night.
"At this stage there is nothing new to report, the mine is still working to ensure the stability of the area where the rockfall has occurred and obviously rescue attempts are inhibited by that," Insp Reynolds said.
"Until the area is stable we can't get any closer to where the rockfall occurred."
Tests will plot the area's seismic activity, but no further tremors are believed to have occurred since the earthquake last night.
Insp Reynolds said the mine was equipped with radio facilities, but they would have been destroyed in the rockfall and no contact had been made.
"I can say that our concerns are grave," he said.
The father of one of the miners this morning told of his family's torment as the hours passed without news.
Noel Russell confirmed his son Todd, who is in his early 30s, was among those trapped about 1km underground at the Beaconsfield Gold Mine, 40km northwest of Launceston.
The trio became trapped about 9.30pm (AEST) yesterday.
"My son is one of the boys trapped down there, so I don't want to say too much at the moment," Mr Russell said today.
When asked how the family was coping with situation, he said "very tough".
Chris Rundle, who runs the local Club Hotel, said Todd was a close friend and a keen Australian Rules footballer with the Tamar Cats.
"I am doing okay. I don't know a lot at the moment," he said.
Mr Rundle said he had contacted the local council to offer the services of his hotel to those involved in the rescue.
"I was thinking that maybe the kitchen could cook up something for the rescue workers," he said.
The miners were 925m underground when they lost contact and were known to be in the vicinity of the rockfall.
The mining company, Beaconsfield Gold Mine Joint Venture, said today it had "grave concerns for their wellbeing".
Resource Minister Bryan Green said the trapped miners had been drilling when a "significant" amount of rock had fallen.
He described the event as a tragedy and said his heart went out to the men's families.
The mine had been closed and Workplace Standards would conduct an investigation to determine "if and when" it could reopen, he said.
Barry Easther, the mayor of West Tamar, said the local council was doing all it could to organise support for the miners' families.
"It's a devastating time in the local community," he said on Channel 9.
"We all live on hope, but it's a bad rockfall.
"Thankfully the other miners who were underground at the time have come to the surface safely.
"We have to brace ourselves as a community and pull together."
It's believed 14 miners were under ground when the earthquake hit, but most scrambled to safety.
Beaconsfield service station owner Craig Seen said he believed the other two miners trapped were from Launceston.
"One is a local from this area and the other two are from Launceston," he said on Channel 9.
Mr Seen said the town was behind the miners and their families, but residents were preparing for the worst.
"We would always live in hope, and you'd hope that some minor miracle would happen, but it doesn't look like it at this stage," he said.
"(It's) very very tough. The whole town will be behind them."
He said all of Beaconsfield felt the tremor last night.
"I don't believe there was any explosion because of Anzac Day. I don't believe they were blasting yesterday," he said.
"But the whole town from about 5km away felt the tremor about 9.30 last night ... all the houses shook in the area."
West Tamar Deputy Mayor Max Burr said the tight-knit community was in a state of angst.
"(It's) absolutely horrendous, there will be a lot of concern, not only in Beaconsfield, but all around Tasmania everywhere," he said.
"It is a major concern and all you can do is feel for the families and the miners who are down and hope they're okay.
"Certainly there would be a lot of ... angst in the local community because whoever they are, they would be well known within the local community.
"I am quite hopeful that the community will be hoping and praying that the people get out all right, that would be the immediate response. I am quite sure there would be a lot of optimism they can get out alright."
However, in an interview with Southern Cross Broadcasting, Mr Easther confirmed no contact had been made with the three trapped men.
"I believe that is the case. The mine are getting rescue equipment down there as we speak," he said.
"I haven't heard anything this morning as to how they are progressing. They would obviously be progressing as quickly as they can, but of course taking into consideration the dangerous conditions that obviously exist where they need to be."
The company said the Department of Mines and the Department of Workplace Standards had been notified.
Beaconsfield resident Mick Wain said his whole house "shuddered and bucked" and the windows and doors had rattled when the earthquake hit.
"This is not the first time these things have happened," he said on Channel 7.
A support centre for relatives and friends of the miners has been established at the West Tamar Council Chambers in Beaconsfield.
Concerned friends and family can contact an emergency hotline on 03 6383 6355.
Reports say there are "indications" they are alive. Could be good news though...
Let's hope it's not a false alarm like in the States last year
................................
The two miners trapped underground in a Tasmanian mine since last Tuesday are still alive.
Just after 7.30pm (AEST), the Beaconsfield Gold Mine company said Todd Russell, 35, and Brant Webb, 36, had been located and ``indications are they are still alive''.
The incident killed their workmate, 44-year-old Larry Knight, whose body was retrieved on Thursday.
Beaconsfield Gold Mine manager Matthew Gill said they had located the two men and indications are that they are still alive. He said the rescue was continuing.
United Church Community Minister Frances Seen said she was in church praying when Todd Russell's mother came running in with the news.
"Todd Russell's mother came running in singing out 'they're alive, they're alive, they're alive','' she told Sky News.
"And she cried and hugged us and it was exciting.
The men have been trapped underground since last Tuesday night when a seismic event triggered rock falls 925 metres into the Beaconsfield Gold Mine in northern Tasmania.
The incident killed their workmate, 44-year-old Larry Knight, whose body was retrieved on Thursday.
On Sunday, rescue crews were blasting a 36 metre-long tunnel to reach the men.
The process involved installing ground support into the newly exposed rock, boring about 50 blast holes, setting off explosive charges, then removing the blasted rock after the firing.
Each firing advances the tunnel about 3.5 metres.
Mr Gill said 780 tonnes of rock had now been removed from the tunnel. "It's slow and painstaking work," he said.
"It is difficult to predict when we will reach where we believe the men are. We are going as fast as we can safely."
The final few metres of the tunnel will be even slower, with crews unable to blast near the trapped men.
Mr Gill said management had not yet decided how to safely complete the tunnel, but the remote-controlled earthmover that cleared rock to locate Mr Knight's body was still on standby.
"That final few metres is critical ... and we're currently spending a lot of thought on that final detailed analysis," he said.
Beaconsfield Gold Mine experienced another seismic event last October and miners have previously raised concerns about the operation's safety.
Mr Gill said earlier rescue crews were taking "every precaution possible" to complete their mission safely.
"It may seem slow, but we're making sure we do it safe, because the last thing we want to do on the back of this tragedy is add any more grief," he said.
AAP
Let's hope it's not a false alarm like in the States last year
................................
The two miners trapped underground in a Tasmanian mine since last Tuesday are still alive.
Just after 7.30pm (AEST), the Beaconsfield Gold Mine company said Todd Russell, 35, and Brant Webb, 36, had been located and ``indications are they are still alive''.
The incident killed their workmate, 44-year-old Larry Knight, whose body was retrieved on Thursday.
Beaconsfield Gold Mine manager Matthew Gill said they had located the two men and indications are that they are still alive. He said the rescue was continuing.
United Church Community Minister Frances Seen said she was in church praying when Todd Russell's mother came running in with the news.
"Todd Russell's mother came running in singing out 'they're alive, they're alive, they're alive','' she told Sky News.
"And she cried and hugged us and it was exciting.
The men have been trapped underground since last Tuesday night when a seismic event triggered rock falls 925 metres into the Beaconsfield Gold Mine in northern Tasmania.
The incident killed their workmate, 44-year-old Larry Knight, whose body was retrieved on Thursday.
On Sunday, rescue crews were blasting a 36 metre-long tunnel to reach the men.
The process involved installing ground support into the newly exposed rock, boring about 50 blast holes, setting off explosive charges, then removing the blasted rock after the firing.
Each firing advances the tunnel about 3.5 metres.
Mr Gill said 780 tonnes of rock had now been removed from the tunnel. "It's slow and painstaking work," he said.
"It is difficult to predict when we will reach where we believe the men are. We are going as fast as we can safely."
The final few metres of the tunnel will be even slower, with crews unable to blast near the trapped men.
Mr Gill said management had not yet decided how to safely complete the tunnel, but the remote-controlled earthmover that cleared rock to locate Mr Knight's body was still on standby.
"That final few metres is critical ... and we're currently spending a lot of thought on that final detailed analysis," he said.
Beaconsfield Gold Mine experienced another seismic event last October and miners have previously raised concerns about the operation's safety.
Mr Gill said earlier rescue crews were taking "every precaution possible" to complete their mission safely.
"It may seem slow, but we're making sure we do it safe, because the last thing we want to do on the back of this tragedy is add any more grief," he said.
AAP
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79,592 Posts
^hmm thats was bloody awful. me thinks this has a happier ending.
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THE two miners trapped underground in a Tasmanian mine since last Tuesday are still alive.
Just after 7.30pm (AEST), the Beaconsfield Gold Mine company said Todd Russell, 35, and Brant Webb, 36, had been located and "indications are they are still alive".
The incident killed their workmate, 44-year-old Larry Knight, whose body was retrieved on Thursday.
Beaconsfield Gold Mine manager Matthew Gill said they had located the two men and indications are that they are still alive. He said the rescue was continuing.
United Church Community Minister Frances Seen said she was in church praying when Todd Russell's mother came running in with the news.
"Todd Russell's mother came running in singing out 'they're alive, they're alive, they're alive'," she said.
THE two miners trapped underground in a Tasmanian mine since last Tuesday are still alive.
Just after 7.30pm (AEST), the Beaconsfield Gold Mine company said Todd Russell, 35, and Brant Webb, 36, had been located and "indications are they are still alive".
The incident killed their workmate, 44-year-old Larry Knight, whose body was retrieved on Thursday.
Beaconsfield Gold Mine manager Matthew Gill said they had located the two men and indications are that they are still alive. He said the rescue was continuing.
United Church Community Minister Frances Seen said she was in church praying when Todd Russell's mother came running in with the news.
"Todd Russell's mother came running in singing out 'they're alive, they're alive, they're alive'," she said.
hmm - it wan't the next minute. It was more like three hours. They even had the state govenor on the TV proclaiming a miracle. (and wasn't it the US?).zach24 said:
Either way, it was one of the worst stories i had seen in years. The footage of the celebrations and then them being told it was a mistake and that they had all died was sickening to watch.
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Fantastic news if these guys get out, I think from the start we have all thought the worst, don't want to jump the gun after what happened in the US, but bloody brilliant if they have survived. Can you imagine being trapped 1000 metres underground?
but now lets hope they can get them out safely!!!
from the Hobart Mercury
btw this has made front page news in every major city newspaper!!!!!!!
from the Hobart Mercury
For heaps more news about it go to www.themercury.news.com.au
btw this has made front page news in every major city newspaper!!!!!!!
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79,592 Posts
yeah i concur it was silly comment thats why i removed it, but that was beacuse 1 miner already died ,so being 1km underground ,.it didnt look good. but alas a miracle and hopefully they will be out soon.rondeez said:lol yeh i was wondering were Culwullas "there is no chance they will be found alive" comment went.
But its a miracle!
latest is that could be another 2 days. priority atm is getting food/water to them. race against time.
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