Rescuers have not entered the mine, dug into the side of a mountain range, since an explosion ripped through the colliery on Friday afternoon, fearing that it is now a smouldering powder keg of explosive gases, that could ignite at any time.
With the break-down of the robot, family and friends vented their frustration with emotional outbursts, as they faced an agonising wait for rescuers to complete more tests of air quality before they could enter.
“It’s getting worse. Frustration, anxiety, anger, it’s all surfacing...,” said Laurie Drew, whose son Zen, 21, is one of the trapped.
Reports said the camera-equipped robot sent into the mine had short-circuited after getting wet in the shaft.
Published 23 November 2010, 16:41 IST