Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Trapped Chile Miners Just Hours Away from Rescue VOA News 12 October 2010 Rescue workers insert steel pipes to encase the escape tunnel that will be used to free trapped miners at the San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile, 10 Oct 2010 Photo: AP Rescue workers insert steel pipes to encase the escape tunnel that will be used to free trapped miners at the San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile, 10 Oct 2010 Chilean President Sebastian Pinera and Bolivian President Evo Morales are expected in northern Chile for the rescue of 33 miners who have been trapped underground for more than two months. Authorities say rescuers are to begin the process of pulling the trapped miners to the surface at midnight Tuesday (0300 GMT Wednesday), although officials have been quoted as saying the process could begin a few hours earlier. The rescue is expected to last up to two days as the men -- 32 Chileans and one Bolivian -- are pulled out one-by-one. On Monday, the capsule that will be used to rescue the miners was successfully tested. The device, known as the Phoenix, is about half-a-meter wide and includes an oxygen supply and a telephone. The men have been trapped since a collapse at the San Jose mine on August 5.  Chile's health minister, Jaime Manalich, said the latest indication from the miners shows stable health conditions despite the extended time underground. Manalich said the decision on the first miner to be rescued will be made moments before the operation begins. He said the men have been arguing who will be last to make the trip to freedom. He said everyone wanted to be at the end of the line -- not the beginning. Once on the surface, the rescued miners will be flown to a nearby hospital for observation. Chilean officials say two mining experts and two paramedics will be lowered down the 600-meter shaft that has been drilled over the past several weeks to assist the miners in the final rescue phase.  Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. IFRAME: [1]http://www.dipity.com/alexvoa/Timeline-Chile-Miners-Ordeal/embed_tl ?bgcolor=%237a99c1 [2]Timeline: Chile Miners Ordeal on Dipity. References Visible links 1. http://www.dipity.com/alexvoa/Timeline-Chile-Miners-Ordeal/embed_tl?bgcolor=%237a99c1 2. http://www.dipity.com/alexvoa/Timeline-Chile-Miners-Ordeal Hidden links: 3. http://www.voanews.com/MediaAssets2/english/2010_09/CHILE_MINE_RESCUE_Rev3.html 4. http://www.dipity.com/ .