At least two sets of human remains have been discovered deep inside New Zealand's Pike River coal mine, more than a decade after a series of explosions killed 29 men. Police confirmed that cameras also captured what may be a third body in a tunnel, but the remains are in a hard-to-reach location and cannot be recovered.
The Pike River mining disaster occurred in November 2010 when two blasts ripped through the mine on the South Island. A 2012 Royal Commission found that miners and contractors had been exposed to 'unacceptable risk' and that there were 'numerous warnings of a potential catastrophe,' but no prosecutions have been brought.
Experts were able to gather images from the deepest parts of the mine by digging a borehole. The newly discovered remains are in the furthest part of the mine from the entrance and have not yet been identified. It is believed that between six and eight men were working in that area at the time of the explosions.
Detective Superintendent Peter Read stated, 'At this point, we have been unable to identify the remains, however we will consult with forensic experts.' Andrew Little, the minister responsible for the recovery operation, added, 'I know some families would like to go further, but that won't be possible.'
In 2017, the government funded a recovery operation, but it was abandoned in March this year after going 2.2km inside the mine without success, as officials deemed it too difficult and costly to continue.
