Rescuers were waiting for gas levels and the risk of a second explosion to drop today so they can enter New Zealand’s biggest underground coal mine to search for 29 men still missing more than 24 hours after a powerful blast tore through the tunnel.

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.

Efforts are underway to bring home the body of the young Irish man who died in a plane crash in New Zealand over the weekend.

A tornado has carved through Greymouth in New Zealand, ripping roofs off houses, tearing down trees and cutting power lines.