Greymouth: Emission of poisonous gas delayed rescue efforts for 29 miners, trapped since Friday in a coal mine in New Zealand, official sources said on Sunday.
"No one for sure to know what happened to them inside the dark pit," a rescuer said as they could not move in the mine due to emission of lethal gas.
The rescuers said the levels of explosive gases were still too high to send a crew into the mine.
The mountainous area has been cordoned off, but rescue operations for the 29 missing men remain on hold.
Two miners reached the surface after Friday's gas explosion, but there has been no word from the others.
Police said the miners, aged 17 to 62, are believed to be about two km down the main tunnel in NZ's south island.
There has been no communication with the missing men since the explosion rocked the Pike River colliery, the country's largest coal producer, near Greymouth on New Zealand's west coast.
Preliminary reports said the explosion was likely triggered by coal gas igniting the mine.
There are 24 New Zealanders, two Britons and as many Australians and one South African.