Rescue efforts for 33 miners ahead of schedule

WORKERS in Chile expect to be able to rescue 33 trapped miners by mid-October, rather than early November as originally anticipated.

The daily El Mercurio newspaper, citing unnamed government sources, reported that officials said state-of-the-art drilling equipment at the scene has made faster-than-expected progress in efforts to reach the men, who have been trapped underground since an August 5 mine collapse.

“There is a chance of completing the operation before President (Sebastian) Pinera departs for Europe on the 15th” of October, one official was quoted by the newspaper as saying. Shortly after the mine collapse, authorities warned that it was unlikely that they would be able to free the men before Christmas, but later said a rescue could take place as early as November.

Mining Minister Laurence Golborne said he would not officially change the rescue timeline, but suggested it could happen more quickly than originally anticipated.

The men — 32 Chileans and one Bolivian — have survived underground longer than anyone on record. They are being supplied with food, water, medicine and entertainment through three supply holes.