Rescuers Finish Escape Shaft For Trapped Chile Miners
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 reached the trapped miners.
A manager of the drilling operation called the breakthrough "phenomenal."
The country＇s mining minister, Laurence Golborne, called the moment an important new step in the rescue process, but he said much work remains. He appealed for calm, saying the miners and their families know clearly the process that is coming and the time it will take.
Golborne said 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.
Golborne said officials will know after Saturday＇s work what the next steps of the rescue will be.
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.
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