RESCUERS WORKING to free the 33 miners trapped underground for more than two months hoped to have started bringing the men to the surface by early this morning.
As anticipation of a happy end to the ordeal built across the Andean nation, the mayor of the town of Copiapó, location of the San José mine, said that with preparations all ready those in charge of the operation had brought its start time forward by four hours.
All going according to plan, rescuers hope to lift the miners one at a time in a cage-like capsule – named Phoenix after the mythical bird that rose from the ashes – which will travel over half a kilometre through sheer rock up a narrow shaft no wider than a man’s shoulders. Each journey will take around 15 minutes and it could be 48 hours before the last of the men reaches the surface.
The first to go will be those the authorities deem to be in the weakest health. The foreman has said he will be the last to leave their subterranean home of 69 days. Once on the surface the miners will be rushed to hospital for medical observation.
Thousands of family, friends and journalists are waiting for the men at Camp Hope, the name given to the camp set up by family members who have accompanied rescue efforts since the August 5th disaster.
Before any of the men come up, four rescuers will descend to the cavern where the men have been trapped in order to co-ordinate with the team on the surface.
The rescue shaft reached the miners on Saturday since when it has been partially lined to strengthen it against possible cave-ins. The Phoenix capsule was successfully tested on Monday.
The men have spent almost 10 weeks in the sweltering cavern 622 metres below the surface of the small gold and copper mine. It was only 17 days after the disaster, and with hope dimming that the men would be found alive, that rescuers made contact with them.
The news that all 33 missing men were alive and together and baring up reasonably well through their ordeal sparked national rejoicing in a country still recovering from February’s killer earthquake. Rescue teams on the surface have since then been advised by Nasa on how to keep the men fit and emotionally well in the dark confined space while the rescue shaft was being drilled.
A small bore shaft was used to pass food and drinks to the miners and allowed them to communicate with family on the surface.
The trapped men have also been put on an exercise regime to avoid any becoming too heavy ahead of their trip to freedom through the narrow rescue shaft.
President Sebastián Piñera of Chile was to reach the mine before the rescue started, accompanied by his Bolivian counterpart Evo Morales.
One of the miners is Bolivian and Mr Morales had said he would be there to welcome him when he reached the surface.
Following the August 5th accident at the San José mine President Piñera ordered a national review of safety at the country’s mines.