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Trapped Chilean Miners Cheer, Sing in First Verbal Contact with Officials

   VOA News 24 August 2010
   Elias  Sepulveda, right, embraces cousin Katherine next to tribute and
   support  site  with  candles, flags and messages for relatives Esteban
   and Pablo Rojas, two of 33 miners trapped at collapsed mine Sa

Photo: AP

   Elias  Sepulveda, right, embraces cousin Katherine next to tribute and
   support  site  with  candles, flags and messages for relatives Esteban
   and  Pablo  Rojas, two of 33 miners trapped at collapsed mine San Jose
   in Copiapo, Chile, 23 Aug. 2010.

   Thirty-three  trapped  miners in Chile cheered and sang in their first
   verbal  contact  with  officials,  even  though  they know it could be
   months before they are rescued.
   Chilean  officials  have  released segments of the exchange, which was
   done  using a newly installed communications system in the mine.  The
   men  could  be  heard  applauding  and  singing the country's national
   anthem during the communication late Monday.
   Rescue  workers  have  been  sending  food,  water  and other supplies
   through  the  narrow drill hole first used to make contact the miners,
   about  700  meters below the surface.  Rescuers have also completed a
   second hole to help get additional supplies to the miners.
   The  33  men were found alive Sunday after being trapped for more than
   two weeks in a mine near the northern city of Copiapo. Â
   Engineers are making plans to drill a rescue tunnel through nearly 700
   meters  of  solid rock, but say the depth of the gold and copper mine,
   and  the  instability caused by the shaft collapse, will force them to
   work slowly.
   During Monday's phone conversation, Chilean Minister of Mines Laurence
   Golborne  told  the  miners  the  entire  country  had celebrated upon
   finding out they had survived. Â
   Joyous families have been writing letters to boost the morale of their
   loved  ones.  Officials say they are also working on plans to provide
   the miners with psychological help as they wait for rescue.
   The miners became trapped following a shaft collapse on August 5.  It
   is  not  clear  what  caused the collapse.  The mine has a history of
   accidents and was reopened after having been closed in recent years.
   Officials  say  the miners survived by reaching a chamber off the main
   mine  shaft,  and  by eating small amounts of tuna and other food they
   found in the chamber.
   Chile is the world's largest copper supplier.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

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