Charges filed in New Zealand 2010 mine explosion

New Zealand’s Labour Department filed 25 criminal charges Thursday over safety and health violations at a coal mine where an explosion last year killed 29 miners.

Each of the charges in the Pike River coal mine disaster carries a maximum fine of 250,000 New Zealand dollars ($195,000). The charges are against three parties, but the agency declined to name them or detail the exact charges, saying that New Zealand’s restrictive rules on releasing information in court proceedings could apply to the case.

The Pike River coal mine was rocked by an explosion on Nov. 19, 2010, trapping the 29 men. A second major explosion five days later dashed hopes any of the workers had survived.