Pike River Mine Chief Executive Peter Whittall said the latest tests had shown there was still heat being given off underground.

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The operator of the mine, Pike River Coal, said that 27 workers remained unaccounted for - 15 of its staff and 12 local contractors.

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He will also win points this week for visiting the victims of the Queensland floods, after his stop in New Zealand to meet residents hit by the Pike River Mine disaster and the Christchurch earthquake.

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