Relatives collapse as second mine blast ends hope

The prime minister John Key declared it a national tragedy, telling the nation in a televised news conference: "New Zealand has been devastated by the news that we have all been dreading."

Even if any of the missing men had survived the initial explosion on Friday at the Pike River Mine, police said none could have lived through the second. Both are believed to have been caused by explosive, toxic gases swirling in the tunnels dug up to a mile and a half into a mountain. The same gases had prevented rescuers from entering the mine to search for the missing men.

"There was another massive explosion underground, and based on that explosion no one would have survived," said police superintendent Gary Knowles, who has been in charge of the emergency operation. "The blast was prolific, just as severe as the first blast."

Family members were told the news after gathering for a regular daily briefing on the rescue operation's progress. Mr Whittal said he began by telling them a team had been getting ready to go underground. Some present – thinking a rescue was to start – broke into applause before he could finish speaking. "I had to wait till they stopped clapping to tell them ... that the second explosion occurred," he said.

Tony Kokshoorn, the mayor of Greymouth town near the mine, said some of the relatives collapsed while others shouted at police in anger. "It is our darkest day," he added.

Laurie Drew, father of 21-year-old miner Zen, said rescuers should have gone into the mine on Friday, saying he believed the explosion would have burned off most of the dangerous gases.

"They had their window of opportunity that Friday night, and now the truth can't come out because no one alive will be able to come out and tell the truth about what went on down there," Mr Drew said. "The only thing that's going to make matters worse is if we find ... out that people were alive after that first blast."

Mr Knowles said at all times after Friday, entering the mine was simply too risky because of high gas levels and evidence of a smouldering coal fire underground that could be an ignition source.

Pete Rodger, 40, from Perthshire, and Malcolm Campbell, 25, from St Andrews, Fife, were among the men missing at the Pike River mine in Atarau on the country's South Island.

It was one of New Zealand's worst mining disasters. The country's industry is relatively small compared with other nations and considered generally safe, with 210 deaths in 114 years.

News of the certain deaths devastated families who – buoyed by the survival tale of Chile's 33 buried miners – had clung to hope for more than five days that their relatives could emerge alive.

Pike River Coal chief executive Peter Whittall said rescue teams were not doing anything that could have set it off, and conditions inside the mine were such it could have happened at any time.

Energy minister Gerry Brownlee said a range of official inquiries would probe the cause of the disaster and whether it could have been prevented.

As news spread around the globe, friends of the Scottish miners paid tribute.

John Daniel, 59, from Perth, Scotland, lived next door to Mr Rodger before he moved to New Zealand. "It's a terrible waste," he said. "We just can't get his smiling face out of our minds.

"He was an excellent neighbour. He was working away a lot on the rigs and I was working away overseas at times and we used to look after each other's houses.

"He always had a cheerful word for you. He was great."

The other Briton, Malcolm Campbell, 25, had worked at the mine for two years and was due to marry fiancee Amanda Shields, 23, on December 18.

There was no answer yesterday at the detached home of his parents on the edge of the hamlet of Cameron near St Andrews in Fife. A family friend said couple had gone to New Zealand and that other family members were too "raw" to talk.

The dead included 24 New Zealanders, two Australians and a South African.

World shares in grief of families

TRIBUTE messages flooded in from around the world.

In a message to John Key, New Zealand Prime Minister, the Queen, said: "My heart goes out to the families and friends of these 29 brave miners and to all who have been touched by this national disaster. I send my thanks and deep appreciation to everyone who has worked so hard to attempt a rescue and also to those who will have a part to play in the task of healing the pain that is being felt throughout New Zealand and around the world.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said the disaster had "deep resonance" with the people of Scotland and he will write to the families of the Scottish miners individually.