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New Bore Hole Reaches Trapped Chilean Miners

   VOA News 17 September 2010
   Operators work on the drill that is being used in the rescue operation
   of  33 miners trapped at the San Jose mine in Copiapo, Chile, 17 Sept.
   2010

Photo: AP

   Operators work on the drill that is being used in the rescue operation
   of  33 miners trapped at the San Jose mine in Copiapo, Chile, 17 Sept.
   2010

   Rescuers in Chile have achieved a breakthrough in efforts to rescue 33
   miners  trapped  underground,  reaching them with a bore hole that now
   must be widened to bring them out safely.
   Engineers  say a drilling machine has broken through to a work area in
   the   tunnel   where  the  miners  are  holed  up,  about  623  meters
   underground.   However,  the rescuers say they do not expect a rescue
   tunnel to be completed before November.
   The  rescue team says it will use a larger drill bit to widen the hole
   to at least 60 centimeters to get the men out.  On Thursday, the team
   finished setting up a large platform from which to drill that tunnel.
   Relatives  of the trapped men cheered and applauded when the platform,
   normally used for digging oil wells, was completed.

   The 33 men have been trapped since the mine collapsed in early August.
   Rescuers  have  been  dropping food, water and other relief to the men
   through three small supply holes.

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