Families and rescuers were celebrating today as trapped miners steadily emerged from their half-mile-deep dungeon under the Chilean desert.

WHILE the dusty curve fronting the gold and copper mine where 33 miners have been trapped for two months may be called Camp Hope, it also has been a bevy of intrigue, envy and rivalries that have divided the miners’ relatives holding vigil here – just as their shared plight unites them.

The first of Chile’s 33 trapped miners is expected to be lifted to the surface in the early hours of tomorrow after more than two months below ground.

The agonising ordeal for 33 Chilean miners who have spent two months trapped underground was nearing its end today.

The Chilean mine rescue team successfully tested a rescue capsule nearly all the way down to where the miners are trapped today.

AFTER more than two months trapped deep in a Chilean mine, 33 miners were yesterday tantalisingly close to rescue.

The first of three rescue capsules specially built to lift out 33 Chilean miners trapped since early August arrived at the mine.

The effort to save 33 men trapped deep in a Chilean mine was an unprecedented challenge, experts said today.

ENGINEERS were in the early stages of drilling an escape route yesterday for 33 Chilean miners trapped deep underground, as officials insisted their ordeal may last until Christmas.

CHILEAN rescuers will begin today the months-long task of drilling a shaft to rescue 33 trapped miners as officials draft an accelerated rescue plan.

MINERS trapped deep in a Chilean mine have sent video footage showing them in good spirits, as their families filed the first of potentially many lawsuits against the shaft owner.

IN three days, 33 miners trapped under Chile’s Atacama Desert will have been stuck underground longer than any others in memory – taxing authorities with unique challenges on coaxing them and their families through the ordeal.

CHILEAN officials broke the news to a desperate group of trapped miners that they could be stuck in their collapsed mine for months before being rescued.

Rescuers in Chile are lowering capsules containing rehydration tablets, glucose and oxygen down a long hole to 33 miners who surprised the world by staying alive while trapped a half-mile underground for two-and-a-half weeks.

Rescuers reinforced a lifeline to 33 miners trapped deep underground today, ready to keep them supplied with food, water and medicine during the four months it may take to dig them out.