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Rescuers Finish Escape Shaft For Trapped Chile Miners

   VOA News 09 October 2010
   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

Photo: AP

   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 broke through.
   The  country's  mining minister, Laurence Golborne, says that once the
   drill  reaches the men, 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.
   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.

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

References

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