Family members in tears after being told the miners are dead. Credit:James Brickwood "It is our belief that no one has survived," Superintendent Knowles said. He said the men had "perished". "We are now going into recovery mode." Distraught family members left a scheduled briefing at Grey District Council a short time ago, only about 10 minutes after it had started and many of them in tears.

Relatives are told the miners are dead. Credit:Iain McGregor Lawrie Drew, the father of trapped miner Zen Drew, said officials had told the families that there had been a second explosion. Superintendent Knowles said it was one of the most horrific things he has had to deal with as a policeman. Sombre mood ... Peter Whittall Credit:AP "We had to break the news to the family and they are extremely distraught.

"I was at the mine myself when the explosion occurred. The blast was horrific. Just as severe as the first blast - and we are now moving into a recovery mode." Queenslander Willy Joynson ... one of the miners feared dead. Credit: The Fraser Coast Chronicle I was at the mine myself when the explosion occurred. The blast was horrific. Just as severe as the first blast - and we are now moving into a recovery mode. "I was at the mine myself when this actually occurred and the blast was horrific, just as severe as the first blast." Superintendent Knowles would not speculate on what caused the blast nor would he say whether anyone else had been injured.

The other Australian miner feared dead, Josh Ufer, with his partner Rachelle Weaver. Grieving families left the afternoon briefing and did not want to talk to the waiting media. An ambulance arrived to offer assistance to the family members. Tragedy below ... The opening to the Pike River coal mine. Credit:Martin Hunter A formal media briefing will be given at 5.30pm (3.30pm AEDT) at Greymouth police station.

Grey District mayor Tony Kokshoorn broke down as he left the briefing. Mr Kokshoorn said families of those men now declared dead had fallen to the floor sobbing when given the news by police this afternoon. "We thought we were going to get some good news," he said outside. "They told us there was a massive explosion and there was no way there were any survivors." He said family members dropped to the floor after hearing the news, with many angry at how police had handled the operation.

He said the irony was that police were now sending in a team into the mine. "It's just gut-wrenching. This is the west coast's darkest hour," he said. "It doesn't get any worse than this." He said the second explosion was "far bigger than the first". "What we've got is a very angry group of families." He said it appeared a lethal mixture of gasses had ignited the mine.

The two Australian miners were Joshua Adam Ufer, 25, and William John Joynson, 49, both from Queensland. Mr Joynson's former mining boss at the Burgowan mine on the Fraser Coast said the community would be rocked by the news. “He was such a good miner and a good bloke,” Wade Kerr said. “I bet all his workmates will be very sad about it when they hear the news. “[The second blast] will bring closure to it now though.”

Fraser Coast mayor Mick Kruger said a memorial service may be held for Mr Joynson, who belonged to one of the original mining families in the region. "Willy had been hoping to return here in the New Year to his residence in Tinana, outside Maryborough. He will be sadly missed because they were part of the community there." Recovery of the bodies Pike River Coal chief executive Peter Whittall reassured families of the victims that the company would do what it could to recover bodies. "I still want them back and their families want them back and we'll be doing everything we can to make that happen."

Mr Whittall said large volumes of smoke came out from underground at around 2.45pm. He said the blast was larger than the first explosion. "It was not what I wanted to see." It was very unlikely there would be any survivors, he said No rescue measures caused the spark, he said. ''It came from somewhere up in the mine.'' It was a natural eventuation that could have occurred on the second day, it could have occurred on the third day.

''My love and support are with those guys,'' he said. Thoughts with mine families: Bligh Premier Anna Bligh says Queensland’s thoughts were with the families of the men who have been lost. Ms Bligh spoke to reporters outside a Queensland Resources Council function of 900 miners and business people in related industries. ‘‘Our thoughts are with the families, particularly of the Queenslanders,’’ Ms Bligh said.

‘‘What’s happening in New Zealand is a reminder that mining - particularly coalmining - can be a very unsafe business and we’ve all got to make efforts to improve wherever we can,’’ the Premier said. Earlier today

Earlier today, Police Commissioner Howard Broad had issued his most bleak outlook yet on the trapped miners. Hot air and gas had rushed up a bore shaft from the mine as robots captured new footage, including a miner's helmet with a light still on. A fire continued to burn inside the mine, and abandoned mines on the West Coast can burn decades after closing to mining.

Commissioner Broad had suggested it could take "quite a long time" before the environment down the mine was safe to enter. "And that, of course, makes the outlook for those who were down in the mine a very bleak one," he said. Anger growing

Before the second explosion this afternoon, the brother of the oldest miner trapped at Pike River had said it was time to send a rescue team into the mine, no matter the risks. Geoff Valli, brother of Keith Valli, 62, told Radio New Zealand this morning he'd had a "gutsful" of hearing the same excuses from police day after day. Police had been warning of the volatile environment in the mine.

Speaking quietly and with his voice breaking, he said he did not feel they could wait any longer. Loading - with AAP, stuff.co.nz and Courtney Trenwith more to come