Breakthrough in Chile mine rescue

[cal04]

Source: BBC

Rescuers have drilled through to the underground chamber where 33 Chilean miners have been trapped since August.

The breakthrough at the San Jose mine came shortly after 0800 local time (1200 GMT).

It means efforts to remove the miners through the tunnel should begin within days.

(snip)
Officials say they still need to determine whether the miners can be winched up through the exposed rock, or if they will have to wait for the shaft to be encased with steel piping.




updated
The BBC's Tim Willcox was with some of the miners' relatives shortly after news of the breakthrough was announced

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11506710

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Drill breaks through to trapped Chilean miners
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39558833/ns/world_news-americas/

[MinneapolisMatt]

1. That's great news!

I hope those guys all get out safely.

[maddezmom]

2. excellent news!!

K&R!

[sarge43]

3. Some good news for a change.

May all continue to go well for those men.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Bet they're bouncing off the walls! They've been waiting for this so long.

Can you imagine what they endured for those two weeks when there was NO WORD whatsoever from the surface that anything was going on? They lived in absolute hell that long, trying to stretch their tiny supply of provisions, eating only a tiny bite each day and taking a tiny bit of water each.

They've waited 2 months to hear that proof arrive that they are going to be able to leave.

From the O.P.:

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk.nyud.net:8090/media/images/49435000/gif/_49435115_breakthrough_story_day65_2.gif

[ManiacJoe]

12. When did they stop receiving food, water, and news from the surface?

[Posteritatis]

15. I think Judi's referring to the first two weeks. (nt)

[Judi Lynn]

16. Absolutely! Thanks. n/t

[awoke_in_2003]

18. I am surprised...

nobody has killed anyone yet.

[Scuba]

5. I worker safety all that important? What about profits?

[kpete]

6. It's the breakthrough --- Joy unrestrained as drill reaches Chile's trapped miners

Source: MSNBC

Drill breaks through to trapped Chilean miners
Siren sounds, letting relatives, rescuers and country know that 'Plan B' has worked

breaking news

SAN JOSE MINE, Chile — Sixty-six agonizing days after their gold and copper mine collapsed above them, 33 miners were offered a way out Saturday as a drill broke through to their underground purgatory.

Word of the drill's success prompted cheers, tears and the ringing of bells by families in the tent camp outside the mine.

Some who have kept a vigil since the Aug. 5 disaster ran up a hill where 33 Chilean flags were planted, chanting and shouting with joy as a siren rang throughout "Camp Hope," confirming the breakthrough.

Some waved balloons, others sobbed in elation.




Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39558833/ns/world_news-americas/

[lunatica]

7. 2,041 feet below the surface

It's absolutely amazing.

I'm crying my eyes out right now.

[classysassy]

20. God bless them all

I have been praying for their safe recovery.

[cal04]

8. MSNBC 's live coverage, drilling expert from the US described steady progress

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/39590046#39590046
I hope these miners get out soon



Gregory Hall a drilling expert from the US, described the steady progress
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11508103

[Rhiannon12866]

9. Wow! Thanks!

:wow: :woohoo: :kick:

[Odin2005]

10. Woot!!!

[cindyperry2009]

11. That is amazing

I think if I had to set down there like that for that long I would have went more than a little nuts. God bless 'em

[Judi Lynn]

13. "Behind Chile's Miracle Mine Rescue"

Behind Chile's Miracle Mine Rescue
by Constantino Diaz-Duran

Today, rescuers reached the Chilean miners trapped 2,300 feet underground. Constantino Diaz-Duran on the incredible end of a months-long saga of survival—and why it's not over yet. Two months and four days ago, one of the most talked-about mining accidents in history trapped 33 men at a depth of approximately 2,300 feet—nearly the length of two Empire State Buildings stood end-to-end.

Today, their rescue is imminent. This morning, the drill that has been working its way through the earth for almost two months finally reached the small underground space where the miners are huddled. Chilean authorities now say they might be able to start pulling the men up as soon as Tuesday.

For 17 days after the mine's collapse, no one knew if the workers had survived the accident. Then, what seemed like a miracle: Days after a probe found no sign of the miners in the place where rescuers thought they were trapped, another probe was pulled to the surface. On the drill bit, a note was written on red pencil: “Estamos bien en el refugio los 33.” All 33 of them were alive.

But the initial rejoicing was soon tempered by a harrowing reality. The rescue of the men would take longer than any ever attempted. They have already set a world record for time trapped underground after a cave-in. Experts said they would remain trapped until Christmas—they would have to survive deep under the earth for over four months. Their families were devastated, but the men underground remained optimistic. On August 27, they were able to send up a video showing the world the conditions under which they were living. They sang the national anthem, and chanted “long live Chile.”

Not all of them were as hopeful as reports made them out to be, however. Amid the good-spirits shown on the video, 34-year-old Edison Peña can be heard mumbling the words, “Get us out of here.” Peña also sent up a letter for his wife, in which he begged her to get more information. “Angélica, what have they told you about us? Have they installed any rescue machinery, or are they at least installing it? What’s the timeframe? Have they given you a possible date for when they’ll get us out of here? I hear it might be two months; is that true? Please, find out.”

From the beginning, the miners have shown a remarkable level of unity and organization. That first couple of weeks, before any contact had been made, they survived on what was meant to be a two-day ration of food. Every 48 hours, each man consumed two spoonfuls of tuna, a piece of peach, a little bit of milk, and a bite of crackers. It paid off. When rescuers contacted them, they still had a little bit of food left. Not surprisingly, they lost weight to the point where some of their family members said they were almost unrecognizable. “My brother is so thin, and he has a mustache!” shrieked a young woman, adding, “but he still looks handsome.”

More:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-10-09/chilean-miners-the-final-days-of-their-rescue/

[PopSixSquish]

14. Wow - Great News

God bless the miners, their families, the rescue workers and the entire country...

[backwoodsbob]

17. great news

and on a happy note...imagine the overtime they've wracked up :hide:

[gauguin57]

19. Great news! But I'm worried about that miner whose wife and mistress are BOTH waiting for him.

Can you imagine your first vision above ground in more than 2 months being your wife AND your mistress, standing side by side, waiting for you to step out of the cage? Yikes! He may wanna go back into the ground!

[UTUSN]

21. What glorious behavior/character of the miners and the Chilean population.

I'm sorry, but contrast that to the behavior in this country with the BP spill: Wingnuts jumping up and down and DEMANDING that OBAMA -----------------DO--------something, FIX it NOW!!!!!!!1