About 80 people gathered at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Greymouth this morning to hear the words of Archdeacon Robin Kingston, who said it was realistic now to start preparing for the worst, while remaining hopeful for the best.
"I really hope that there'll be a miracle and they'll be rescued.
He prayed for the men running the rescue operation, the trapped miners' families, as well as that the mine would not close, because it was such an important part of the Coast's economy.
As time went on his job was to prepare people for the worst, he said.
The service ended as two bus-loads of families of the trapped miners returned to Greymouth after visiting the coal mine this morning.
Drilling plan
Rescuers plan to drill a hole into the Pike River coal mine today to enable them to take more air samples from the mine as the waiting continues for the families of 29 miners trapped since an explosion on Friday around 3.45pm.
Pike River Coal chief executive Peter Whittall told a media briefing today testing had shown there was heating in the mine, the result of combustion underground which was still producing toxic gases.
Mr Whittall said a rig would drill a 15cm hole about 100-150m deep.
The drilling would take at least 16 hours.
Toxic gas levels in the collapsed Pike River mine are still fluctuating, which is causing serious delays for any rescue attempt, Tasman District police area commander Superintendent Gary Knowles said today.
Rescuers and family members, impatiently awaiting for the start of the rescue operation of the 29 workers trapped in the mountain for about 40 hours, will be taken to the mine this morning so they can see what is happening and the company and police can explain the issues they face.
The 16 Pike River employees and 13 contractors spent their second night in the mine last night and fears are growing steadily for their wellbeing.
Toxic gas yesterday reached levels that were considered too high for search teams to enter into the mine.
This morning Mr Knowles said police were still running a rescue operation, but because of the dangerous gas level, searchers were not able to yet enter the mine.
International experts from Australia and other countries had arrived overnight.
Police and other rescue services were constantly training and were ready to move in as soon as the all clear was given, he said.
Families were still holding out hope for the safe return of their loved ones. Each family had been provided with a support person.
Twenty-four New Zealanders, two Australians, two Britons and one South African have been out of contact with mine management since about 4pm on Friday afternoon.
Two men, who were working alone escaped the mine, Russell Smith, 50, and Daniel Rockhouse, 24.
They suffered moderate injuries but have now been discharged from Grey Base Hospital and have requested privacy.
Daniel Rockhouse's brother, Ben, is still trapped underground and the family has faced further tragedy with the brothers' grandfather "Rocky" dying suddenly on Friday night.
Laurie Drew, whose son 21-year-old, Zen, is trapped in the mine, said he wanted to hear solutions, not reasons why the rescue could not be done.
"If I had it my way I'd go in there, gas or not," the father, who was wearing his son's jacket, told One News.
He was also frustrated he was not allowed at the site, which was where he wanted to be, regardless of the outcome.
"I just want my boy home."
Greymouth District councillor Milton Osborne and promising rugby league player Blair Sims were two other New Zealanders trapped underground.
Mr Knowles said the rescue operation would be constantly reassessed, but the situation was complex and involved numerous risks.
"Everyone here is totally focussed on getting these men out and returning them to their families."
It is believed the workers are trapped about 2km along the tunnel that burrows horizontally into the side of a mountain, about 150 metres below the surface.
When word comes that it is safe to go in, the rescuers will have to negotiate 2.5km of underground tunnels while carrying equipment.
Pike River Coal chief executive Peter Whittall said the explosion damaged a ventilation shaft but the mine had natural ventilation because of the layout.
The miners also carried breathing gear that would have lasted up to an hour on their belts.
Mr Whittall said the compressed air line, although damaged in the explosion, was still pumping fresh air into the mine and was "flowing very freely".
Prime Minister John Key promised the miners' families the Government would give them every possible support and that everything possible would be done to rescue "the 29 brave men".
