Fears for trapped miners as rescuers use explosives

RESCUERS feared two Australian miners would have to spend a 13th night nearly 3,000 yards underground, as a solid rock barrier forced rescuers to use explosives to blast the final stretch of an escape tunnel.

Explosive specialists set off small charges in an attempt to cut through the final yards of rock and free Brant Webb, 37, and Todd Russell, 34. “Work is proceeding steadily and safety remains a key concern,” said Beaconsfield Gold Mine manager Matthew Gill.

“Miners report that we are dealing with some of the hardest rock they have ever worked with, up to five times harder than concrete.”

The men, both married fathers of three, have been entombed in a tiny steel cage deep inside the mine since an earthquake caused a rockfall on April 25.

Rescuers have bored through more than 45 feet of rock using a giant drilling machine in an effort to reach the men. But cutting the final stage of the escape tunnel has been slow and arduous work, with miners switching to hand tools to avoid causing a cave-in.

Union official Bill Shorten said using jackhammers was futile, like “throwing Kleenex at rock”. Rescuers must cut another 3.6 feet of rock before they can tunnel a similar distance vertically into the cavity where the pair have survived.