The 33 miners trapped in a gold and copper mine in northern Chile since August 5 have been found alive Sunday. Experts and workers familiar with the facility believe they have some 1.8 kilometres (more than a mile) of space within which to move underground.
“There is more than enough space” for the miners’ survival, said Gino Erazo, another co-worker, also specializes in the fortification of mines.
The miners have been trapped for over two weeks some 700 meters (2,300 feet) below ground at the mine near the city of Copiapo, about 800 kilometers (500 miles) north of the capital of Santiago.
With hope fading, the miners were found on Sunday to be alive, when they sent a note up attached to rescuers drilling equipment.
A camera sent down a bore hole showed the men shirtless and sweaty but otherwise well. Temperatures in the mine are about 80 degrees.
Jubilation was tempered, however, by news that it could take as long as four months to free the men by carving out a new mine shaft.
Officials said the mine was supplied with enough food and water to last up to 72 hours, but the men have managed to survive for two weeks beyond that.
