‘Bleak’ outlook for trapped New Zealand miners

NEW ZEALAND police warned yesterday the outlook was “bleak” for 29 miners missing four days after a blast, as video footage revealed chilling images of a powerful underground explosion.

Frustrated relatives of the missing, who were shown the video before its release, expressed anger at stalled rescue efforts as a robot sent into the mine broke down, and an exploratory bore-hole was slowed by hard rock.

But New Zealand police commissioner Howard Broad said there were still high levels of explosive and poisonous gases in the mine, making it impossible to send in rescue teams.