ALL 29 men missing in a New Zealand coal mine died after a powerful second blast tore through the pit, plunging the country into mourning.

A massive explosion deep inside a New Zealand coal mine today erased hopes of rescuing 29 miners caught underground by a similar blast five days ago.

RESCUE crews waited impatiently outside one of New Zealand’s largest coal mines last night for the all-clear to begin a search for 27 men missing after a powerful gas explosion struck deep underground.

Around 30 workers were unaccounted for after an explosion ripped through a coal mine in New Zealand today, police and media reports said.