GAG working to extinguish fire in Pike River
mine.
Police have advised that the GAG unit, which is
hoped will extinguish the fire in the Pike River coal mine,
was successfully started at 10pm yesterday.
The jet engine
has been operating all night and will continue until
sampling indicates the fire has been extinguished and the
atmosphere inside the mine is inert.
"This is a
significant step forward," said Superintendent Gary
Knowles.
"However, we are mindful that this is just a
first step and we have a long way to go before the
environment will be safe enough to send a recovery team into
the mine."
Once the mine atmosphere is inert, work will
start to cool the temperature inside the mine to enable the
recovery team to enter. This is likely to involve pumping
nitrogen into the mine.
Police do not yet have an
indication how long this will take, however the mines
experts warn it will not be a quick process.
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