Global General

Families of trapped Australian miners fly to NZ

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-22 15:13
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BRISBANE -- Relatives of trapped Australian miner Willy Joynson on Monday flew to New Zealand to support his wife and the couple's two young children, while family of the other trapped Australian Josh Ufer is maintaining a vigil at the site of the disaster.

Joynson, 49, from Queensland's Fraser Coast, and Townsville- born Josh Ufer, 27, another Queenslander, are among 29 miners missing following a gas explosion on Friday ripped through the Pike River coal mine at Greymouth on the South Island of New Zealand.

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Joynson's sister Veronica Cook said the family was very concerned and that their mother was not coping well.

Meanwhile, Ufer's family is maintaining a vigil at the site of the disaster.

Ufer's New Zealand-based girlfriend Rachelle Weaver, who is three months pregnant, is anxiously waiting for news that the rescue operation can begin in earnest.

His father Karl, also a miner, has flown from his base in China to join the family in New Zealand, The Townsville Bulletin reports.

New Zealand police said on Monday the situation at the Pike River mine is "grave".

Superintendent Gary Knowles on Monday said drilling had commenced at the Pike River mine and rescue teams were looking at sourcing fibre optic cable to gain a visual of the mine shaft.

Rescue teams remained on standby to carry out a rescue operation as soon as it was safe to do so, Knowles said.