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Chilean President: 33 Missing Miners Alive

   VOA News 22 August 2010

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS

   Relatives  of  Chilean  miners trapped in a collapsed mine react after
   being informed that one of the drill machines being used in the rescue
   effort  has  reached  the  depth  where  the  miners are thought to be
   located, Sunday Aug. 22, 2010.

   Chilean   President  Sebastian  Pinera  says  all  33  miners  trapped
   underground for more than two weeks are alive.
   Mr.  Pinera  says  a drill sent by rescuers nearly 700 meters into the
   mine came back with a message from the trapped men.  He displayed the
   message in an appearance on television.
   Reuters  news  agency reports relatives hugged and kissed upon hearing
   the news that the miners are alive.
   But  rescuers say it could take up to four months to reach the miners,
   whose supplies are limited.
   The  miners became trapped following a shaft collapse on August 5 in a
   gold  and  copper  mine  near  the northern city of Copiapo, about 700
   kilometers north of Santiago. Â
   It  is  not  clear what caused the mine collapse.  The mine has had a
   history of accidents and had been closed in recent years before it was
   reopened.
   Chile is the world's largest copper supplier.
   Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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