33: The Entrapped Miners in Northern Chile

Yesterday, Sunday, was a very memorable day throughout Chile. For the past 18 days, 33 miners have been trapped in a mine in Copiapo, Chile (northern Chile). Along the pathway to reach the mine, rocks fell preventing anyone from entering and exiting the mine. The miners were left nearly half a mile below the surface in a refugio where they fortunately had some supply of water, beds, and plenty of space to move around.

No word had been reported of their health and even if they were alive. Until yesterday. Yesterday afternoon President Pinera and the rescue crew announced to the entire country that the 33 miners are alive and in reasonable health, 700 meters below the surface. They dug a space wide enough to send a camera down to the refugio and yesterday we saw the first signs of communication with the miners. They wrote a note saying, "Estamos bien en el refugio, los 33." "We are fine in the refuge, the 33 of us." It is truly incredible and I had had many doubts that they were still alive.

Now the real rescue process is set to begin. The rescue team says the operation may take four months to reach the refugio where the miners are. With that said, camera crews are reporting the latest 24/7, famous people are donating money to the families of the miners, and plans are being set to change the way mining operates in Chile. Yesterday I felt proud of the Chileans, their strength, and the unity that this country has. While it is ridiculously long and different regions offer completely different lifestyles, everyone was glued to their televisions to see that the miners were alive. Cars throughout the country were honking their horns, people were waving Chilean flags in the streets, and today schoolchildren were welcoming the machinery that is to guide the team to the refugio where the miners await.

Stay tuned for more news! Los Mineros volveran!!

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/08/23/chile.miners/index.html#fbid=yX7Dqie1z7o&wom=false