Gases delay rescue for 29 at New Zealand mine

WELLINGTON, New Zealand Currently, the levels of methane and carbon monoxide in the air are too dangerous. The explosion happened Friday in the Pike River Mine near the town of Atarau on New Zealand's south island.

Rescuers are on standby at least through Sunday morning when more air quality testing can be done. Police said the miners, aged 17 to 62, are believed to be about 1.2 miles down the main tunnel.

Two miners were able to make it out of the mine on their own on Friday. Efforts to contact the trapped miners have been unsuccessful.

Mine officials said the blast was most likely caused by coal gas igniting.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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