"What gave armchair critics the right to criticise and worse - accuse the rescuers of deliberately sitting on their hands?"

Up to 500 relatives and friends of the Pike River miners travelled to the mine today, which one mother described as "very healing".

Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn wants the mining industry to learn from past mistakes and has called for a royal inquiry.

"We pray that their moment of fear becomes eternal peace," said Monsignor Gerry O'Connor during an emotional tribute to the Pike River miners in Greymouth.

Families of the dead men due to be bused to the Pike River mine tomorrow will still go, despite a third explosion at the mine this afternoon.

There has been a third explosion at the Pike River mine this afternoon. The blast occurred at 3.39pm and lasted for 23 seconds.

A third robot that has gone 1575m into the Pike River coal mine has detected debris and destruction indicating Wednesday's blast was much more violent than the first one.

It is likely to be several more days before operations will start to stabilise the Pike River mine so that the bodies of 29 men can recovered, police say.

A Pike River Relief Fund Trust has been established for the families of the 29 men who died in the Pike River coal mine.

A small West Coast community will now face the task of recovering and rebuilding following a disaster of devastating proportions.

International experts say they are shocked a mining disaster the magnitude of the Pike River tragedy occurred in a modern mine.

Liquid nitrogen could be used to stabilise the situation in the Pike River mine, experts told the Science Media Centre.

He has to accept he has lost a son. But Marty Palmer won't give up until his son's body is back with the family so they can mourn properly.

Check here for developments in the wake of the Pike River mine disaster today.

Rescue authorities are vowing to recover the bodies of the 29 miners - but admit they don't know when it will happen.

'People find just that extra little bit, they take a deep breath, they will raise the bar…,' Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn says.

The Pike River CEO had to give the worst news possible to families who had looked to him for hope.

The abrupt certainty of a second blast at Pike River shattered hundreds of loving hearts.

The first four hours after Friday's Pike River mine blast was the only time rescuers could have entered the mine, a safety expert says.

Before the service began, 29 candles flickered on a table near the altar surrounded by many unlit candles waiting to be lit by mourners.