Chilean Mine Rescue

In Copiapo, Chile, plans are set for early this week to work on the release of 33 miners trapped in a mine collapse. The miners have been stuck underground since August 5^th, some 2,300 feet below the surface. Rescue efforts are slated to begin Tuesday night at about 11pm Eastern Standard Time, midnight in Chile. The test of the rescue capsule, “Phoenix 1,” went very well, traveling to a depth of about 2000 feet—not far from where the men are trapped. According to rescuers, “it fit well” but they couldn’t lower it any more to risk someone trying to jump inside. Rescuers are now waiting for the concrete base of the winch to solidify before beginning the project.  Early Monday, workers cheering “Viva Chile” finished lining the tunnel for the capsule with metal reinforcements. The miners will be brought up in shifts after lowering a doctor and rescuer into the chamber. Once out of the mine, the miners will be flown to the town of Copiapo and to the nearby hospital. Health officials have monitored the miners to see if they will be able to handle the stress of being removed. Despite some minor cardiac or anxiety problems, “ the overall response has been good.”

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/10/11/chile.trapped.miners/index.html