Bernard99,the driver who was 700 meters from the blast was in...

Bernard99,the driver who was 700 meters from the blast was in the tunnel, itself being the natural pathway [IMO] for the force to take - that is after going up through the main ventilation shaft. There are no reports of driver being burnt and he has been discharged from hospital.

The coalface is way on the other side, at least 500 meters from the ventilation shaft and in a different direction to the natural pathway a force would take [from explosion at the bottom of the ventilation shaft]. Also has to go around some corners and then divides into 2 tunnels heading towards the coal face.

If they survived the initial explosion then they have a chance to still be alive.