15/09/2011 BBC Wales Today


15/09/2011

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Welcome to Wales Today, not far from Gleision Colliery where,

:00:03.:00:06.

tonight, a major rescue operation is underway to try and free miners

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trapped underground. Police say every effort is being

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made to try and rescue them from a flooded cavern. Four men are still

:00:18.:00:27.

underground. Three others managed to escape.

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It is a difficult rescue situation, it is dynamic. There is water

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within the mind which is something we are trying to drain at this

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moment in time. Families and friends have been

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gathering at a local community centre, desperate to hear any news.

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The First Minister says a "Gold Command" meeting has taken place

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and specialist teams have arrived to help from across the UK.

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My thoughts and prayers are with those who laugh at the moment

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trapped in the mind in the Swansea Good evening. A major rescue

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operation is underway tonight here in the Swansea Valley. We're in

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Cilybebyll near Pontardawe at Gleision Colliery where, just above

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me, four miners are trapped underground. The team trying to

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rescue them say they're trapped by water but, at the moment, they

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don't know where they are. Three other men, who were also trapped,

:01:47.:01:57.
:01:57.:01:58.

managed to escape. One is in a critical condition in hospital.

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They are trapped 90 metres underground. But they have been

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trapped by water. We have been told there are pockets of air which are

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leading offer that shaft and that is where we are told the miners are

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making their way to. But they have not had contact with the emergency

:02:15.:02:25.
:02:25.:02:43.

Tonight, the First Minister, Carwyn Jones, says the priority of the

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Assembly Government is to ensure they're rescued as quickly as

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possible, safely. Specialist teams have arrived to help from across

:02:49.:02:59.
:02:59.:03:01.

the UK. As you can see, there is a number of police vehicles here.

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There has been a lot of activity here throughout the day. Paramedics

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coming to and from the scene. Everybody is waiting for news.

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Well, our reporter Nicola Smith has been here since the news broke and

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has this report. This quiet country lane has been at

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the centre of a major rescue operation. Specialist teams from

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across South and West Wales brought equipment and their expertise in a

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bid to find the miners, who were trapped underground. These pictures

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give you an idea of the scale of the operation. Police, ambulance

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and the fire service are all involved. The emergency call was

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made at 9:20am this morning. There were reports that seven men were

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trapped in the colliery. Three of those men pull themselves to safety

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but for remain underground. One of the men who escaped is now in a

:03:56.:04:00.

critical condition in hospital. He is a complex operation to get to

:04:00.:04:05.

the miners and all-day specially trained teams have been on site.

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The men are trapped by water which they hit when they broke into an

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area of old mine workings. They are located approximately 90 metres

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underground. They are down a 250 metre main road into the mind. At

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the end of that, it essentially turns left and then of that little

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shaft there are numerous little tunnels and so on, old workings,

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which all, potentially, have air pockets in. They are experienced

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miners, they know the layout of the mind, they would know where to go

:04:41.:04:46.

in this sort of situation. The issue we are dealing with his bare

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root out of the mind is blocked by water. Local contractors have been

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brought in with pumps, generators, and lights. The rescue is touching

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people right across this area and beyond. A strategic co-ordination

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group has been formed and the Welsh government is represented on that.

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I am being kept fully informed by my officials and by emergency

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services at the scene. Police say the men who managed to escape have

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been able to provide rescuers with vital information.

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Let's talk to the local MP, Peter Hain. He came straight down from

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London. What is your reaction? is very serious. This is a grim

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situation. The families are clearly traumatised. I have seen at first

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hand the emergency services and the police working flat out, determined

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to rescue these men. But they are run a very difficult situation. One

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of the things about this area is, when you see the community rallying

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around, there has been a lot of mining and distillers. Mining may

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have died out in other parts of South Wales but there is still a

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lot of activity, two large mines in the Neath Valley, for example. The

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community is rallying around. The last time we had a fatality here

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was 20 years ago. That was about five or six miles up the valley. We

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are hoping against hope that these men are going to be rescued. As a

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minister, what will you be doing? As the shadow minister, I have

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already spoken to the Secretary of State for Energy in Westminster to

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say that if any resource is needed in South Wales that we don't have,

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although we seem to have everything we need, and I have nothing but

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praise for the rescue operation, but if there is anything we need he

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has promised to deliver it. Nothing matters more than getting these men

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out safely. What have the emergency services been telling you? It is a

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very difficult situation. The main tunnel they have gone in and out of

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has been blocked by water. They tried to gain access through the

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eternal witches parallel and they were short of oxygen and so they

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are pumping oxygen into that tunnel and they are trying to pump the

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water out of the main one. They are desperately hoping they can reach

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these trapped men. How are the families bearing up? The families

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are traumatised. Obviously, they are worried out of their minds. The

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son of one of the trapped miners, he himself, for chilli, was able to

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get out safely. But he is pacing around the local community centre

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desperately worried about his father. That is true of the other

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farm least -- families. These are communities that no mining but have

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not known anything like this since anybody can remember. Thank you

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very much. It's been a huge shock to the

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people here. Friends and family are gathered at a community centre in

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Rhos where they're anxiously waiting for news on the rescue.

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I've been here all afternoon speaking to the people here. This

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is around a mile and a half from the colliery. Relatives have been

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gathering all day. It has been acting as a liaison point for them

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to find out the latest news. In the last few seconds, a police

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inspector and a fire crew member went in with some news. They have

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been waiting, not knowing what is happening. There are wives, sons,

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nephews in there. It is an agonising wait.

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Under the ground, they were digging for coal in one of the few

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remaining mines in South Wales. Much of this area of the Swansea

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Valley now hides the scars of industry but the communities are

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mining once and when accidents happen, the community pulls

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together. They have gathered at Rhos village hall to wait for news.

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The police are telling us the water caved in it. There are four people

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still down there. We were you? was working. Underground? No, I

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don't work there. Friends of yours? My father. Everything possible is

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being done to rescue the men. Having just spoken so recently took

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the girl commander, I know that everything is being done. If there

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was any more resources that were required, they would be absolutely

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available from government. Tonight, as the operation continues, there

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is an increasingly anxious wait for the relatives gathered here.

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Let's find out a little bit more about this area. Peter Hain talked

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about the fact there are a number of mines still here. Yes, there are

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about five small minds in this area. They used to be far more. There are

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over 400 call miners working in these collieries. The danger is,

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only eight worked in this mine which was renowned for being wet

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and having all kinds of problems with water. It has a history of

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being opened and closed. There will be, I suspect, lots of questions

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being asked after this rescue mission about how the mind is being

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run and the condition of the mind. It was interesting to note from the

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fire officer, the chief operations officer here from Mid and West

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Wales, that it was actually the walls of one shaft being broken and

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are then the water rushing out. That has flooded this mine. That is

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not to do with rainfall, it is not to do with any water draining into

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the mind, it is this huge wall of water inside a forgotten shaft, I

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suppose. Thank you very much. We will speak to you later on. Let's

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talk to Gwenda Thomas. You have been talking to families today.

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That was a few hours ago now. I don't know how they feel by now,

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having waited even longer. This morning, of course, they were very

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anxious. I don't think we can imagine what they are going through.

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Perhaps we have started to forget that these things happen in

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communities like this. It is years since I remember this happening

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before. I think this has been a reminder to all of us that these

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things do happen. I have every faith in the emergency services. We

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have heard what the police, fire and ambulance have said, but also

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to see miners rescued, active within our communities, it brings

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it all back. We know about their expertise and that will be a very

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positive impact on this. What kind of impact will this have on the

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community? I think it will be a generational impact. A lot of young

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people will be listening to this and living through it for the first

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time. I think the older generation, who used to live with this on a

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daily basis, we used to live with this for fear of something like

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this happening, and during recent years we have had less and less

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about that as the industry, the demise of the industry. But I do

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think this has shocked people and has reminded us that this sort of

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thing can happen when you have got a much as employment such as mining,

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whether it be deep mining or drift mining or whatever. We know that

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the emphasis on this area has moved more to open cast mining in latter

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years. Were you be going back to see the families tonight and trying

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to give them some comfort? I think all we can do is to offer whatever

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support we can. We need to give them strength to see this thing

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through. Thank you very much for If you're worried that one of

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you're relatives may be involved then police have set up a phone

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line you can contact. The number is 01792 555565. That's 01792 555565.

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The latest on the rescue mission in a few minutes, first Claire has the

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rest of the day's news. Wales should concentrate on

:13:32.:13:35.

attracting young businesses to set up shop here, rather than chasing

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big, international companies. That was the advice given to the Welsh

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Affairs Select Committee by one of the country's most successful

:13:42.:13:46.

companies. The committee of MPs met in the National Assembly but try as

:13:46.:13:56.
:13:56.:14:02.

they might they failed to attract The No 2 and had come, if not to

:14:02.:14:12.

Muhammad, at least two Cardiff Bay. Although the door stayed open,

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Edwina Hart stayed away. She had declined the invitation and was in

:14:17.:14:24.

meetings all day. We are not getting the word out effectively at

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the moment. Plaid Cymru were also absent. Many of the themes in

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Today's session were not new. Wales needs transport links for the bid

:14:40.:14:46.

should not be sold abroad as the home of cheap labour. There was the

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suggestion that they will be some form of enterprise zones. Should

:14:50.:15:00.
:15:00.:15:00.

the government bring back a Welsh Development Agency? Companies like

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Admiral, its director said aiming to will attract multinationals was

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not the way forward. multinationals bring new mobile

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investment. They are not necessarily something that brings a

:15:21.:15:31.
:15:31.:15:32.

stable future. You need to find start-ups. You compete to put those

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into Wales. It corporation is another consistent theme.

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chairman said it was a pity the business Minister was not there to

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hear it. It was a pity that they stayed away. It is a fairly

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negative attitude if they stay away because we are MPs and they do not

:15:56.:16:00.

want anything to do with us. We should be working together.

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report will be published in a few months.

:16:02.:16:05.

A soldier from the First Battalion the Royal Welsh has died in a

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shooting incident at a military firing range in Kent. Fusilier Dean

:16:08.:16:11.

Griffiths, who was 21, died on the Lydd Ranges yesterday. His

:16:11.:16:13.

commanding officer said he was an outstanding soldier with the

:16:13.:16:16.

potential for a long and very successful career. A police

:16:16.:16:20.

investigation is continuing. Football. FIFA have blocked the

:16:20.:16:24.

signings of two defenders by Swansea City. Darnel Situ and Rafik

:16:24.:16:26.

Halliche were both signed on transfer deadline day but they've

:16:26.:16:31.

now been denied international clearance to play. Swansea say

:16:31.:16:33.

they'll wait to see FIFA's full judgement before deciding whether

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to appeal. The Premier League club already has several defenders out

:16:37.:16:41.

injured. The latest, loan signing Stephen Caulker, could miss up to

:16:41.:16:51.
:16:51.:16:54.

eight weeks with a knee problem. aren't off the field, we have a run

:16:54.:17:02.

of bad luck at the moment. Williams has been outstanding and mink has

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yet to feature. We are small in terms of numbers.

:17:12.:17:15.

Wales will host its own flame- lighting event in the run-up to

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next year's Paralympic Games. In the week before the opening

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ceremony, flames will be lit in Cardiff and each of the other home

:17:21.:17:23.

nations before they're combined at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, the

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spiritual home of Paralympic sport. The torch will then be carried in a

:17:26.:17:29.

relay to the Olympic Stadium in time for the opening ceremony on

:17:29.:17:33.

August 29. Today, Welsh swimmer and 11-time gold medallist David

:17:33.:17:36.

Roberts was in London for the official launch of the Paralympic

:17:36.:17:46.
:17:46.:17:46.

torch relay. It is a good way of promoting what this is all about.

:17:46.:17:52.

It is about getting communities together. It is an exciting idea.

:17:52.:18:01.

It could be a good thing to take the for flames from each region. It

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is a clever thing to do. Rugby and Wales have been based in

:18:06.:18:09.

Taupo this week, a town the size of Bridgend or Pontypridd which

:18:09.:18:11.

doesn't have a World Cup fixture itself. But undaunted, Taupo's

:18:11.:18:14.

thrown itself into attracting foreign teams and tourists. Gareth

:18:14.:18:17.

Lewis has been finding out how they've been getting on and if

:18:17.:18:27.
:18:27.:18:29.

Welsh tourism could follow suit. Taupo, in the centre of the North

:18:29.:18:36.

Island, it is about to host a load of travelling Welsh fans. The

:18:36.:18:41.

people and businesses here have not just relied on the scenery. They

:18:41.:18:47.

have marketed heavily in Wales in the autumn, persuading people to

:18:47.:18:54.

come here. Wales, South Africa and Ireland will be based here during

:18:54.:19:04.
:19:04.:19:07.

As a small town, we came together and said we have to sell ourselves.

:19:07.:19:16.

It is important to us. We got together and we made it happen. In

:19:16.:19:26.

the last four days, we have seen a fourfold increase in visitors.

:19:26.:19:30.

There are Welsh fans who have decided to live in the great

:19:30.:19:40.

outdoors. This is our home for the next 3 1/2 months. Welcome inside.

:19:40.:19:47.

Basically, we have our Wales flag here. This is our bed. The table

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folds down and we can put the cushions on top. Everyone here is

:19:53.:19:58.

so friendly and helpful. They go out of their way to give you

:19:58.:20:03.

directions until you what to do. They have done this really well.

:20:03.:20:06.

have had a fantastic time. The welcome is outstanding and the

:20:07.:20:16.
:20:17.:20:20.

scenery is amazing. The lager is fab. It is Samoa next Sunday. At

:20:20.:20:26.

least a few fair fans have already had the adrenalin pumping this week.

:20:26.:20:36.

We are about to go for a ride. bit nervous, but I am looking

:20:36.:20:40.

forward to the experience. Glamorgan are pressing for victory

:20:40.:20:43.

on the final-day of this season's County Championship. They're

:20:43.:20:53.
:20:53.:20:54.

chasing for victory against Kent in Let's get the day's weather now

:20:54.:20:57.

with Derek. The weather is quiet and settled at

:20:57.:21:02.

the moment but it is not going to last. There is a change on the way.

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Some rain and showers tomorrow and it is looking unsettled for the

:21:05.:21:08.

weekend. Dry this evening into the night but a few light showers may

:21:08.:21:12.

crop-up during the early hours. More cloud than last night so

:21:12.:21:18.

milder. Lowest temperatures 9 to 13 Celsius. Tomorrow's chart shows a

:21:18.:21:23.

trough of low pressure over Ireland pushing a front across Britain. So

:21:23.:21:26.

tomorrow some places will start dry but there will be a few showers

:21:26.:21:30.

around and then during the day more rain and showers will spread across

:21:30.:21:35.

the country. The rain heaviest in Mid Wales, the north and west

:21:35.:21:40.

followed by brighter, drier weather. The breeze picking-up with top

:21:40.:21:46.

temperatures of 18 Celsius. If you are off to the cricket at the

:21:46.:21:48.

Swalec Stadium, showers may delay the start tomorrow afternoon but it

:21:48.:21:52.

should dry and brighten-up allowing play to get under way. As for the

:21:52.:21:57.

weekend, low pressure in charge so unsettled. Sunny intervals and

:21:57.:22:00.

blustery showers. Some of the showers heavy with hail and thunder.

:22:01.:22:07.

Fresh to strong winds as well making it feel on cool. The Cob in

:22:07.:22:11.

Porthmadog is 200 years old. Lots going on this weekend. The weather

:22:11.:22:16.

not the best. Cool and windy with a bright intervals and heavy showers.

:22:16.:22:20.

Now on Sunday, Wales take on Samoa in Hamilton. Showers will clear to

:22:20.:22:26.

sunshine. The wind easing with a high of 16. Back home and our

:22:26.:22:30.

picture tonight is from Allen Lloyd. Signs of Autumn at Tintern in the

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Wye Valley. Thanks Allen. Some rain and showers tomorrow followed by

:22:35.:22:45.
:22:45.:22:46.

drier and brighter weather. A That is all from the news of this

:22:46.:22:50.

evening. Let us go back now to the Swansea Valley with a major rescue

:22:50.:22:54.

operation is under way tonight. For miners are still trapped

:22:54.:23:04.
:23:04.:23:04.

The rescue operation is still ongoing. It has been going on

:23:04.:23:11.

throughout the day. The men are trapped underground. They have been

:23:11.:23:16.

located 250 metres into the mine shaft. Images his services cannot

:23:16.:23:22.

reach them or contact them. Off the shaft, there are minor routes and

:23:22.:23:27.

we are told the men will know those routes and we are told there are

:23:27.:23:32.

their pockets there. But they cannot get out because the route is

:23:32.:23:36.

blocked by water. Three men have escaped and one is in a critical

:23:36.:23:46.
:23:46.:23:47.

condition in hospital. They are down a 250 metre main route into

:23:47.:23:55.

the mind. It turns left and then off that, there are numerous little

:23:55.:24:01.

tunnels, old workings, which will potentially have a pocket in them.

:24:01.:24:06.

The First Minister says the priority of the Welsh Government is

:24:06.:24:12.

to ensure the men are rescued as quickly as possible and safely.

:24:12.:24:17.

Specialist teams have arrived from across the UK to help. A strategic

:24:17.:24:21.

co-ordination group has been formed and the white government is

:24:21.:24:27.

represented on that. We are being kept fully informed of developments

:24:27.:24:34.

by officials and emergency services. There is plenty of activity at the

:24:34.:24:41.

scene. A couple of police vans have arrived. Senior police officers and

:24:41.:24:47.

members of the fire crew have gone to talk to the men's family this

:24:47.:24:51.

evening. You have been talking to the families. What have they been

:24:51.:25:01.

telling you? They are obviously distressed but they are hopeful

:25:01.:25:09.

they will be rescued safely. Naturally, there are too distressed

:25:09.:25:16.

to hold any form of conversation at the moment. They are praying for

:25:16.:25:21.

the safe return of their relatives. I understand you know a few of the

:25:21.:25:31.
:25:31.:25:34.

men who work here? I know at least two of them. I am quietly

:25:35.:25:44.
:25:45.:25:46.

optimistic. They may have found a safe haven this morning. They will

:25:46.:25:55.

be quietly calm and they will be quite safe among themselves. They

:25:55.:26:05.
:26:05.:26:06.

will keep each other occupied. They will be busy making sure the area

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they are in his safe. They will know that people are working hard

:26:18.:26:28.
:26:28.:26:28.

to reach them. How do you know these men? They are all miners,

:26:28.:26:38.
:26:38.:26:40.

they are great buys. I have worked with some of the families. What

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will you be doing tonight? Will you be with the families? I will remain

:26:48.:26:58.
:26:58.:26:59.

here for as long as is needed. Hopefully, hopefully, we will

:26:59.:27:05.

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