Drill reaches trapped Chilean miners; first miner could be pulled out on Wednesday

Drill reaches trapped Chilean miners; first miner could be pulled out on Wednesday

2010-10-10 06:22:21 GMT+7 (ICT)

COPIAPO, CHILE (BNO NEWS) -- The rescue of 33 miners in northern Chile who are trapped 700 meters (2,296 feet) deep underground since August 5 has entered one of its final steps after a drill reached them on Saturday, completing an evacuation line.

Chilean Minister of Mining, Laurence Golborne, said during a press conference on Saturday night that the miners' evacuation will start on Wednesday after encasing 96 meters (314 feet) of the escape shaft.

According to Golborne, the rescue will last around 48 hours and if all go by plan, all the 33 miners should be out by Friday.

Horns, sirens, tears, cheers and chants were heard outside the mine around 08.05 a.m. local time (1200 GMT) when officials confirmed that a T-130 machine, known as "Plan B", had "broken" the gallery where the miners are trapped.

"Thirty-three days have gone on drilling for the rescue" said Chilean Minister of Mining, Laurence Golborne, stating that the T-130 came to a workshop adjacent to the shelter where the miners have taken refuge for 64 days.

According to mining officials, the T-130 driller will be removed during the next few days and cameras will be introduced through the evacuation line to examine the duct that has a diameter of 66 centimeters (23 inches).

"Now we will not rush to define important situations, we will take the time necessary," said Minister Golborne. "There is still a long road ahead, much work to do and many precautions to take, but today we reached a major milestone."

The imminent rescue of the miners, who received only a two percent chance of survival by some experts in August, became a reality after the work of hundreds of engineers and workers of various Chilean and foreign companies.

Rescue teams have prepared three rescue cages, a hospital, tents and a special area where press conferences will take place and media will be able to witness the rescue.

Previously, Chilean authorities said that the 33 workers trapped in the San Jose mine would be rescued by November.

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