The families of the 29 men killed in the Pike River Coal mine have applied to have photos showing the bodies of two workers made public.
Spokesman for the families, Bernie Monk, says they have been shown photos that are so clear they have been able to positively identify the bodies of two men.
"There are two men - we know who the two people are," he told New Zealand's Sunday Star Times.
The families are debating whether the photos should be publicly released to boost calls for a body recovery mission. They are also considering launching their own efforts to re-enter the mine.
Mr Monk said the families have applied to have the photos released and are waiting to hear back.
The decision to release the photos has to be made by the Royal Commission of Inquiry investigating the cause of the New Zealand mining disaster in November 2010.
Other photos seen by the families show that a box containing self-rescue kits had been opened after the first explosion.
Mr Monk said the photos were proof some of the miners had survived the November 19 blast.
A second explosion, four days later, ruled out any hope of survival, police said at the time.
The families have been frustrated by the slow progress towards recovering the bodies from the mine. They have recently sent a three-page letter to New Zealand Prime Minister John Key urging more action.
25 Febr 2012
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/world/13014951/families-want-nz-mine-photos-released/
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