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Two miners survive N.Z. blast, no contact with others

WELLINGTON (AFP) – Two miners survived an explosion at a New Zealand mine Friday but there has been no contact with others underground since the blast occurred, the mining company's chief executive said.

Pike River Coal chief executive Peter Whittall denied reports a body had been removed from the South Island mine.

"I've not had any reports of that at all," he told TV3. "We've had two miners who've walked out of the mine and they're currently being spoken to and treated on the surface.

"We've had no communication with anyone else underground at this stage."

Police said there were reports of an explosion at the Pike River coal mine, on the South Island's rugged west coast, at about 4.30pm (0330GMT).

Pike River Coal's Wellington office said they were still working out what had happened.

"We are still trying to determine what has actually happened down there. All our senior management are involved in trying to find out what's happened and when we know what's happened we'll be able to release a statement and update," a company official told AFP.

Kokshoorn said that police, rescue helicopters and ambulances were rushing to the scene of the blast.

"We're just keeping our fingers crossed but it's not good," he said.