The Pike River Mine Disaster occurred on November 19, 2010, in New Zealand's West Coast region. A series of explosions in the underground coal mine resulted in the deaths of 29 miners. Rescue efforts were hampered by dangerous conditions, leading to the decision to abandon the search for survivors after several days. The disaster raised significant concerns about mine safety regulations and practices in New Zealand. An official inquiry revealed failures in safety management and communication, prompting changes in mining laws and increased scrutiny of the mining industry to prevent similar tragedies in the future.