Chilean Mining Minister Laurence Golborne said at the San Jose Mine on Thursday that the final rescue for 33 miners trapped in northern Chile would start on Saturday.
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Relatives of the 33 miners still trapped deep underground wait for further information at the San Jose Mine, 800 km north of Chilean capital Santiago, on Oct. 6, 2010. The 33 miners have been trapped 700 meters underground for two months by far as the rescue operation hopefully enters its final phase.[Jorge Villegas/Xinhua] |
Golborne said that under "Plan B" of the rescue effort, the drilling machine would be able to open a passage over 700 meters deep to fetch the miners, who have been trapped since Aug. 5 when the San Jose mine collapsed.