Seven police staff from the Southern district, including six from Otago, one of whom is a member of a police disaster victim identification team, have been sent to Greymouth to assist with the police search and rescue operation at the Pike River Coal mine.
The officer in charge of the operation, Superintendent Gary Knowles, acknowledged yesterday hopes were fading for the 29 men still inside the mine after Friday's explosion.
Rescuers have been unable to enter the mine due to the explosive nature of the gases inside, and concerns that sending people in would cause an explosion, putting their lives at risk and those of anyone further inside who was still alive.
Police officers from around the country have been arriving in Greymouth since Saturday.
The southern team includes three detectives, southern police communications person Vivien Blake, and top search and rescue staff Senior Sergeant Brian Benn, of Dunedin, Sergeant Tod Hollebon, of Te Anau, and Sergeant Aaron Nicholson, from Wanaka.
Snr Sgt Benn was a member of a police disaster victim identification team that worked in Indonesia after the 2006 Boxing Day tsunami.
Asked if disaster victim identification teams were on standby in Greymouth, Supt Knowles said police were preparedfor any eventuality.
Supt Knowles has been under pressure from the community to make the call to send rescuers into the mine.
Police yesterday started talking about the grave situation and bleak outlook for the men, as families began to speak out about their anger and frustration at a lack of rescue attempt.
Police commissioner Howard Broad yesterday said he had full confidence in Supt Knowles and the job he was doing in what was an ''extremely challenging'' operation.
