Tas: Rescue operation under way for trapped miners

AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2006
Tas: Rescue operation under way for trapped miners

By Robyn Grace and Catherine Best

BEACONSFIELD, Tasmania, April 26 AAP - Rescuers today prepared to send a remote-controlled
camera underground to try to determine the fate of three miners trapped after an earthquake
triggered a rockfall at a Tasmanian gold mine.

Grave fears are held for the three miners at the Beaconsfield Gold Mine, about 40km
north-west of Launceston, who have not been heard from since the rockfall about 9.30pm
(AEST) last night.

As their families endured an agonising wait for news, rescuers said a video camera
would be sent into the blocked shaft to assess the damage.

"The situation is still dangerous to the point where we are unable to access the immediate
area," resident mine manager Matthew Gill told reporters.

He said rescue crews were doing "everything possible" to save the three men, who were
working about a kilometre underground when trapped.

"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."

Mr Gill also revealed the men did not have access to emergency rescue chambers, but
added: "That isn't an issue at this point in time."

He declined to speculate about their options for survival inside the blocked mine shaft.

Eleven other miners were underground at the time of the incident but managed to scramble
to safety.

At least one of the three trapped miners is a local man. Todd Russell is a keen Australian
Rules footballer aged in his early 30s.

Mr Gill said all of the trapped men had been employed with the mine for several years
and were experienced miners.

West Tamar Mayor Barry Easther said Beaconsfield was a small community and the residents
would rally around families affected by the accident.

"They're coping reasonably well but it's very difficult when you're just waiting," he said.

Tasmanian Resources Minister Bryan Green said a full investigation would be launched
into the accident.

He said the men had been drilling in preparation for managed explosions at the time
of the collapse.

"The (mine) management have indicated it is a significant fall. It is going to require
some time to get to where the work was underway," Mr Green said.

He said the collapse was an "absolute tragedy".

"I am obviously concerned for the families of those people that are trapped in the
mine at the moment. Of course our heart goes out to them ... and their families and the
community of the West Tamar," Mr Green said.

A close friend of one of the trapped men said his family had gathered together and
were anxiously waiting for news.

"We have all got our fingers crossed at the moment. But he is a big boy and if anyone
will get out of there, he will," said the woman, who asked not to be named.

Geoscience Australia confirmed a minor earthquake of 2.1 magnitude occurred in the
area of the mine collapse last night.

A local resident described the earthquake as frightening.

"I thought, what the heck was that," Beaconsfield resident Wendy Garwood told ABC Radio.

"We usually have some mine blasting, but it was nothing like this.

"My china cabinet just rattled, and the floor underneath, it felt like the explosives
were right under my house."

The mine is the town's largest employer.

Mr Burr said it was the first incident at the century-old mine since it reopened in 1995.

The Australian Workers' Union (AWU) said it would conduct its own investigation into
working conditions at the mine.

AAP cmb/gfr/rgr/sp/tnf/nf

KEYWORD: MINE THIRD LEAD

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.