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15 September 2011
Last updated at 12:34 ET
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About 50 rescuers are trying to free the men but are being hampered by water in the mine
A major operation to rescue four men is being hampered by water getting into the drift man where they are trapped.
Rescuers are focusing efforts on trying to pump water from Gleision Colliery near Cilybebyll, Pontardawe in the Swansea Valley.
No contact has been made with the miners, who became trapped by water after breaking into old mine workings.
Two men escaped and a third is at Morriston Hospital in a critical condition.
"We know that water is ingressing into the mine. The mine itself is underneath quite a steep slope near the River Tawe," said Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones.
"Nevertheless, we know the emergency services are working very hard and we know the mine is in a difficult position to reach."
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
Mr Jones said he was not yet aware of what condition the trapped miners were in, but a gold command emergency services meeting was due to take place later on Thursday evening.
Meanwhile, a dedicated telephone line has been set up for members of the public to contact if they are concerned that relatives may have been involved. The number is 01792 555565.
Emergency services, which were called to the mine at 09:21 BST, said it was not yet known exactly how the incident happened.
The Mines Rescue Team leader Andrew Watson said rescuers had taken in lights and pumps and were trying to work out how much water is there and whether it was getting deeper in the mine.
They are said to know where the miners were working but have little detail of where they are currently located.
Supt Phil Davies said though there was water in the mine there was nothing preventing access.
"There is not a blockage issue in the mine, it is a water issue which we are currently trying to drain," he said.
"We are dealing with a difficult rescue operation but we are doing everything possible."
Two more men escaped unaided from the drift mine - a mine cut into the side of a hill where the coal seam is accessed horizontally - before emergency services arrived.
Supt Davies would not comment on reports that the colliery owner was one of the trapped men.
Friends and relatives are currently waiting for news in a nearby community centre.
Continue reading the main story From the scene
"It's a very tricky rescue, in quite a difficult area of south Wales, just north of Swansea, about four miles from Neath in a very wooded area in steep valleys and on the edge of the Brecon Beacon. It's a difficult area, not remote, but difficult in terms of where the mine is located.
"Gleision Colliery is a small privately-owned coal mine, a drift mine.
"It wasn't a roof fall but it was water that was the problem, so it could be that part of this drift mine is flooded and that this is the problem in terms of getting to those four men still inside.
"A drift mine doesn't have a shaft, it isn't a deep mine. Coal miners can use tram lines to go into the mountain...so it's easier in that sense to get in and out.
"But of course we are talking about an area just above the Tawe river, in the Swansea valley, an area which has plenty of water. It's very difficult and it seems that the major obstacle is the water - part of the drift mine tunnel seems to be flooded."
BBC Wales reporter Nicola Smith said about 50 rescuers were involved, of whom 18 to 20 were firefighters trained for this type of incident.
'Cordoned off' Rescuers include nine rope specialists and 12 urban search and rescue specialists.
The Mines Rescue Service (MRS) in south Wales, which sent a team of five rescuers to the colliery at 09:45 BST, said there had been no explosion or fire.
Local councillor Arthur Threlfall said: "The mine is in quite a remote spot. At the moment you cannot go anywhere near it because a large area around it has been cordoned off by the police."
He added: "Gleision is one of those collieries that has open and shut many times, and they tend to work on the basis of when coal is found. However, it has recently been extended.
"This is the first mining disaster I have known for many years."
Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan commented: "I am receiving regular updates from the police services and I will be praying for the safe rescue of all involved."
Expressing his deep concern, Neath MP Peter Hain said: "This is one of a number of small mines in the area. Obviously the families will be deeply worried."
Meanwhile, Neath AM Gwenda Thomas said the point of the contact for the area is Rhos Community Centre where those affected can talk to police and specialists.
Although most mines in south Wales are now closed, there are pockets of small-scale collieries still in operation.
Gleision Colliery, in operation since 1993, works coal under a very steep hillside above the banks of the river Tawe.
Are you in the area? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC, you can do so using the form below.
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Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.About 50 rescuers are trying to free the men but are being hampered by water in the mine
A major operation to rescue four men is being hampered by water getting into the drift man where they are trapped.
Rescuers are focusing efforts on trying to pump water from Gleision Colliery near Cilybebyll, Pontardawe in the Swansea Valley.
No contact has been made with the miners, who became trapped by water after breaking into old mine workings.
Two men escaped and a third is at Morriston Hospital in a critical condition.
"We know that water is ingressing into the mine. The mine itself is underneath quite a steep slope near the River Tawe," said Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones.
"Nevertheless, we know the emergency services are working very hard and we know the mine is in a difficult position to reach."
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
We are dealing with a difficult rescue operation but we are doing everything possible”
End Quote
Supt Phil Davies
Mr Jones said he was not yet aware of what condition the trapped miners were in, but a gold command emergency services meeting was due to take place later on Thursday evening.
Meanwhile, a dedicated telephone line has been set up for members of the public to contact if they are concerned that relatives may have been involved. The number is 01792 555565.
Emergency services, which were called to the mine at 09:21 BST, said it was not yet known exactly how the incident happened.
The Mines Rescue Team leader Andrew Watson said rescuers had taken in lights and pumps and were trying to work out how much water is there and whether it was getting deeper in the mine.
They are said to know where the miners were working but have little detail of where they are currently located.
Supt Phil Davies said though there was water in the mine there was nothing preventing access.
"There is not a blockage issue in the mine, it is a water issue which we are currently trying to drain," he said.
"We are dealing with a difficult rescue operation but we are doing everything possible."
Two more men escaped unaided from the drift mine - a mine cut into the side of a hill where the coal seam is accessed horizontally - before emergency services arrived.
Supt Davies would not comment on reports that the colliery owner was one of the trapped men.
Friends and relatives are currently waiting for news in a nearby community centre.
Continue reading the main story From the scene
"It's a very tricky rescue, in quite a difficult area of south Wales, just north of Swansea, about four miles from Neath in a very wooded area in steep valleys and on the edge of the Brecon Beacon. It's a difficult area, not remote, but difficult in terms of where the mine is located.
"Gleision Colliery is a small privately-owned coal mine, a drift mine.
"It wasn't a roof fall but it was water that was the problem, so it could be that part of this drift mine is flooded and that this is the problem in terms of getting to those four men still inside.
"A drift mine doesn't have a shaft, it isn't a deep mine. Coal miners can use tram lines to go into the mountain...so it's easier in that sense to get in and out.
"But of course we are talking about an area just above the Tawe river, in the Swansea valley, an area which has plenty of water. It's very difficult and it seems that the major obstacle is the water - part of the drift mine tunnel seems to be flooded."
BBC Wales reporter Nicola Smith said about 50 rescuers were involved, of whom 18 to 20 were firefighters trained for this type of incident.
'Cordoned off' Rescuers include nine rope specialists and 12 urban search and rescue specialists.
The Mines Rescue Service (MRS) in south Wales, which sent a team of five rescuers to the colliery at 09:45 BST, said there had been no explosion or fire.
Local councillor Arthur Threlfall said: "The mine is in quite a remote spot. At the moment you cannot go anywhere near it because a large area around it has been cordoned off by the police."
He added: "Gleision is one of those collieries that has open and shut many times, and they tend to work on the basis of when coal is found. However, it has recently been extended.
"This is the first mining disaster I have known for many years."
Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan commented: "I am receiving regular updates from the police services and I will be praying for the safe rescue of all involved."
Expressing his deep concern, Neath MP Peter Hain said: "This is one of a number of small mines in the area. Obviously the families will be deeply worried."
Meanwhile, Neath AM Gwenda Thomas said the point of the contact for the area is Rhos Community Centre where those affected can talk to police and specialists.
Although most mines in south Wales are now closed, there are pockets of small-scale collieries still in operation.
Gleision Colliery, in operation since 1993, works coal under a very steep hillside above the banks of the river Tawe.
Are you in the area? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC, you can do so using the form below.
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