Chilean miners ‘days away’ from rescue

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

Drillers have completed an escape shaft, and Chile’s mining minister says a video inspection shows the hole’s walls are firm enough to allow the men to be hoisted out as early as Wednesday.

Officials said late Saturday that workers first must reinforce the top almost 100 metres of the tunnel and had begun welding steel pipes for that purpose.