Trapped Chile Miners Near Rescue, Changed By Their Time Underground

Wall Street Journal:

TIERRA AMARILLA, Chile-- Fifty miles from a rescue operation poised to extract 33 miners trapped deep underground, Emilio Gonzalez pondered the fate of a pair of townsmen who went down into the mine together in August.

"Nothing here ever changes," says Mr. Gonzalez, looking out over the soccer field where he had watched the two men play on the same amateur club. "But you have to wonder if anything will ever be like it was before for them."

Around Saturday, rescuers at the site of the collapsed San José mine are expected to complete a 28-inch-shaft that extends a half-mile down to the chamber where the miners have taken refuge. After that, the men could be extracted in as few as three or as many as eight days, depending upon whether engineers deem it necessary to reinforce the shaft with steel casing, Mining Minister Laurence Golborne said. Then the plan is to use a specially designed capsule to extract, one at a time, men who have spent more than two months below.

Read the whole story: Wall Street Journal

Comments

[Sara Lira]

10:53 AM on 10/10/2010

This is an unbelievable story! they have incredible strength! I recently went to the caverns in San Antonio and we experienced complete darkness, even though it was only 180ft underground the humidity was suffocating and the complete darkness was even worse... i can't imagine spending 2 month down there. They deserve the best.. they shouldn't have to work another day of their lives!

[ontariogirl]

01:03 AM on 10/10/2010

News just reported they have broken through. Man, I'm going to be a wreck when I watch the news of the first man being taken out. Its so emotional. My heart goes out to the families of these men. I hope they all make it out safely. They are going to have one big party in Chile. I wish I was there to celebrate. Good luck to all.

[LastTexasRose]

12:19 AM on 10/10/2010

I hope everything goes well, it would be very nice to have a happy ending story to a tragic mine accident

[MJinCanada]

10:06 PM on 10/09/2010

Thirty-three guys who will be trying to hug their families while racing for showers.

I wish them all well. I also hope there will be retraining available for those who don't even want to go down to the basement again.

[Lisbeth35]

07:07 PM on 10/09/2010

I hope the best for them and I also hope that they are afforded private reunions with their families. I can only imagine the emotional toll it has taken on everyone. they have a right to be reunited without a TV camera in their face.

[Ladywolf55]

03:51 PM on 10/09/2010

I sure hope they make it out safely. All the best to them. Glad they're alive to see another sunrise/sunset.

[Biby Simion]

03:32 PM on 10/09/2010

www.gbx.ro/member_page.php?id=794

[DebofMD]

01:54 PM on 10/09/2010

Wonderful. Absolute best to all of them and their families/friends.

[Kassandra]

08:43 AM on 10/09/2010

This is a very happy day!
those miners are some tough cookies. They are pros and have been helping down under while the drilling has gone on.
CNN has got a good story on the planned extraction:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/10/09/chile.trapped.miners/?hpt=T1

[Lisbeth35]

06:41 PM on 10/09/2010

How interesting! Thanks for the link.

[Lotus19]

08:43 AM on 10/09/2010

Rooting for you all!

[valeskas]

08:22 AM on 10/09/2010

This is something wonderful and I hope that they get the help they need, when back home.

[immortal]

08:04 AM on 10/09/2010

Of course i will never know the struggles they're going through, but i 'm more than joyful for them & their family's the miners are alive and not Dead.

[NoMercy]

08:03 AM on 10/09/2010

BREAKTHROUGH!

[babybuda]

07:53 AM on 10/09/2010

Our hearts go out to them, may this ordeal be over soon, and may they all make it safely up , out , and home .!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wikwox]

07:53 AM on 10/09/2010

So they've "changed" like the long term unemployed? Does this mean no one will hire them?