Rescue Drill Reaches Trapped Chile Miners

A file handout picture provided by the Government of Chile shows a group of trapped miners waving to a video camera at mine San Jose, near of Copiapo, Chile, 17 September 2010. EPA/BGNES

Rescuers have completed the drilling of an escape shaft for the 33 miners that have been trapped underground for months in Copiapo, Chile.

Thus, over the next few days the rescue workers will start pulling out one by one the 33 men, who have been trapped down the San Jos? copper and goldmine since August 5, 2010.

Officials have said the rescue process after the drill breakthrough could begin within three to four days. But mine engineers must decide first whether they need to encase the shaft with steel tubing to prevent rockfalls and further collapses during the extraction process," CNN reported.

The additional casing of the shaft would take several more days before the pulling out begins, according to Chile's Mining Minister Laurence Golborne.

The shaft still needs to be widened so that the Phoenix, the rescue capsule, could reach the miners safely. The authorities will first lower a doctor and a rescuer into the chamber, Health Minister Jaime Manalich said.

If no unexpected obstacles turn up, the entire pullout of the miners one by one will probably take about 36 hours.

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.

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