Rescuers Finish Escape Shaft For Trapped Chile Miners
Photo: AP
Workers involved in the operations to rescue 33 trapped miners are seen taking pictures in the San Jose Mine near Copiapo, Chile, 09 Oct 2010
Rescue workers in Chile have finished drilling an escape shaft for 33 miners trapped underground for more than two months, and officials say they could start pulling them to the surface in the coming days.
A drill broke through to the miners on Saturday morning, creating a shaft just wide enough for a specially designed escape capsule. A siren blared and family members of the trapped men cheered and waved flags as the drill finally broke through.
The country's mining minister, Laurence Golborne, says that once the drill reaches the men, experts will have to determine how much of the shaft to reinforce with metal before bringing the miners up one by one.
The miners have been trapped more than 600 meters underground since early August, when part of the mine collapsed. Crews have been sending food, water, games, letters and other items to the men through small supply shafts.
A team of 16 paramedics and rescue experts has been preparing to help bring the miners to the surface. Authorities say some of the team will join the miners underground to make their journey as easy as possible
A drill broke through to the miners on Saturday morning, creating a shaft just wide enough for a specially designed escape capsule. A siren blared and family members of the trapped men cheered and waved flags as the drill finally broke through.
The country's mining minister, Laurence Golborne, says that once the drill reaches the men, experts will have to determine how much of the shaft to reinforce with metal before bringing the miners up one by one.
The miners have been trapped more than 600 meters underground since early August, when part of the mine collapsed. Crews have been sending food, water, games, letters and other items to the men through small supply shafts.
A team of 16 paramedics and rescue experts has been preparing to help bring the miners to the surface. Authorities say some of the team will join the miners underground to make their journey as easy as possible
(voa)
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