The Pike River Mine disaster was a coal mining accident that began on 19 November 2010 in the Pike River Mine, 46 kilometres (29 mi) northeast of Greymouth, in the West Coast Region of New Zealand's South Island. A first explosion occurred in the mine at approximately 3:30 pm (NZDT, UTC+13). At the time of the explosion 31 miners were present in the mine. Two miners managed to walk from the mine; they were treated for moderate injuries and released from hospital later that day. The remaining miners were believed to be at least 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) from the mine's entrance.[1]
Following a second explosion on 24 November at 2:37 pm, the 29 remaining miners are believed to be dead.[2] Police Superintendent Gary Knowles, the man in charge of the rescue operation, said he believed that "based on that explosion, no one survived".[3] It is New Zealand's worst mining disaster in 96 years, and the nation's worst loss of life as the result of a single event since the 1979 crash of Air New Zealand Flight 901.
I decided to copy the above text from a news site as I am very aware of how much sadness could be caused by the wrong information being shared.
The West Coast has a reputation of having a family that stretches its entire length and when some thing like this happens everyone is affected. At the time of the news of the second explosion I was at the hair dressers (yep, a new look, but I’ll share that another time), the young lass washing my hair shed more than one tear and the rest of the staff and customers suddenly became very, very quiet. I knew I was witnessing something that I would remember for life and the event that caused it. My heart goes out to all the families and to those that worked towards trying to get a better outcome.
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Go and hug someone you love today.
Thank you ,I will. I thought about you and a couple of other bloggers when I read the sad news. You are really close,and I am sure it felt tragic,as it did in this part of the world.
ReplyDeleteHappy Quilting to you,I am much behind on every thing as I am attending another big Christmas Sale Market,and very focused on makeing things.
Such a sad and terrible time.
ReplyDeleteOh I am and I do ......... as I am also going through my own drama at present...life is so good at throwing up "Crap" when you are in a good place ... I just knew it was to good to last
ReplyDeleteBig hugs
Laurie
hi Miche'le. An informative post and I agree with your thoughts on misinformation. It is a sad time for all NZ, and my thoughts are also down there... for all those involved, not only for the families of the men who died but also for those who worked so hard to try and improve the final outcome.
ReplyDeleteHi Michele wish i could visit more often, think will ask a friend to come down again just so i can LOOK at the shop.Been so busy well trying to be i have slowed down so much but must be greatful that i am still here.
ReplyDeleteHave a quilt tacked ready to quilt on machine yes i know that is not really way you do things but need to get it done.
Love your decorations, hope to see you soon Pat