The bid to rescue 29 New Zealand coal miners trapped underground by a massive gas explosion for nearly five days hit new problems Tuesday as a mechanical robot broke down inside a tunnel and hard rock layers slowed progress on gas testing.
Police superintendent Gary Knowles said the army robot broke down after it was affected by water, “and can no longer be used.”
He added the drilling team boring into the mine tunnel had hit “very hard rock” overnight, further delaying efforts to test if air quality underground is safe enough for rescuers to go in after the 29 trapped miners.