This morning when I turned on the news they indicated that the more than 2 dozen miners that have been trapped almost half a mile underground in Chile for more than 2 months are close to being rescued,with a successful drill hole down to the space where they have lived since August 5th when a massive part of the mine shaft they were working in collapsed.Against all means they survived and have been recieving food,water and even camera equipment so that rescure workers can keep an eye on their conditions.



Authorities now say that the ordeal that has altered this 33 men's lives and kept the whole world watching since could be at the beginning of the end within the next 24 hours,however there are some big risks that will have to be taken to get the minors out such as a possible second collapse as they drill bore and make a larger space to get elevation equipment down to the miners to hoist them to safety.



On my way to work today,I did something that I never have before in my life,I said a prayer for those guys.I pray and hope that they get out safely.Both them and their families have been through alot and in most of these mine cases,the first reports of something going wrong under ground have tragic implications and a costly aftermath.

If the rescuing of these men is successful it will be the first major success story of its kind since those 9 miners in Pennsylvannia were rescued a few years ago.It will also be the largest,successful underground mining rescue operation in history.God I hope they can get all 33 of them out with no injuries or deaths.

I know this might sound a bit corny lol,but if you are religious or just believe in divien intervention I ask you to consider saying just a quick prayer in your spare time for these men,their familes and themselves are counting on it.

This is from the Gaurdian(UK) Oct.9 article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/26/trapped-chilean-miners-wait-rescue
Chilean miners told they may be trapped until ChristmasWorkers complete second borehole to send clothes, medicine and games to men who face long wait to be rescued
(260)
Sam Jones and agencies guardian.co.uk, Thursday 26 August 2010 08.54 BST Article history
Candles are lit at the site of the Chilean mine where 33 men may be trapped underground for months. Photograph: Natacha Pisarenko/AP

The 33 Chilean miners who have been trapped underground for three weeks have been told that they may not be rescued until the end of the year.

The health minister, Jaime Mañalich, said the men – who had not previously been told how long the operation could take – had accepted the news calmly during talks with the Chilean president, Sebastián Piñera.

"During a conversation with his excellency the president of the republic, we were pretty much able to tell them and they've accepted that they're not going to be rescued before Fiestas Patrias [Chile's independence day celebrations on 18 September]," said Mañalich last night.

"[But] we hope to be with them – and their families hope to be with them – before Christmas."

The minister added: "I think that we've been able to talk with them very frankly and they've accepted it and they're calm and they want to work well with us."

Mañalich said the men were still in good shape and revealed that rescue workers had managed to finish a second narrow borehole which would be dedicated to channelling drinking water to the miners and keeping communications flowing.

Rescuers are sending clothes, medicine and games down the 700-metre borehole, which has the diameter of a grapefruit, to help keep the men physically and mentally fit.

The government has asked Nasa and Chile's submarine fleet for tips on survival in extreme, confined conditions, and are intending to send them rations similar to those used on space missions.

Mañalich said the miners would also be given antidepressants.

"We expect that after the initial euphoria of being found, we will likely see a period of depression and anguish," he told reporters. "We are preparing medication for them. It would be naive to think they can keep their spirits up like this."

The miners have lost about 10kg each after having survived on half a glass of milk and two mouthfuls of canned tuna every 48 hours until supplies ran out. They have been told to watch their weight so they will be able to squeeze through the narrow escape shaft that is being drilled, and given tape measures to ensure they keep their waists below 90cm.

The men sent samples of water from underground tanks to the surface for testing, and rescuers are sending down fortified mineral water.

The miners are in good health, but officials are looking for ways to help ease the psychological pressure. They plan to set up special lighting in the tunnel to mimic night and day, with dull red lights to help the miners sleep.

Until now, the miners have used vehicle batteries to power lights and charge their helmet lamps.

The miners and their relatives are exchanging letters through the shaft.

"You have no idea how much my soul ached to have been underground and unable to tell you I was alive," Edison Pena said in a letter to his family. "The hardest thing is not being able to see you."

Esteban Rojas promised his wife he would finally buy her a wedding dress when he got out, and hold a church ceremony, 25 years after they wed in a registry office.

Officials are vetting letters sent by relatives, to avoid any shocks, although some disagree with the method.

"It's very important for the miners' mental health that they communicate openly with their families, and without filters, either by letter or by phone," said Claudio Barrales, a psychologist at the Universidad Central in Santiago.

The miners' relatives, who have been living in plastic tents at the minehead in a makeshift settlement dubbed Camp Hope, are gradually returning to their normal lives, but some are drawing up rosters so they can take turns at being at the mine.

The accident in the small gold and copper mine has turned a spotlight on mine safety in Chile, the world's top copper producer, although accidents are rare at big mines. President Piñera has fired officials of Chile's mining regulator and vowed to overhaul the agency.

lol I will pray for them Peter.

Indeed Peter.Though they are just hours away from rescue according to last reports,they still face some dangers in accordance with getting out alive.

The whole world is watching this and Im sure they have many thousands if not millions pulling for there safe return back to the top.I surely will close my eyes and whisper a prayer for them tonight before bed.They were just individuals trying to do their jobs and got caught up in a very unfortunete situation.Thank god they have made it this far and that salvation is right around the corner.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/12/workers-begin-to-rescue-trapped-chilean-miners/

well its finally over and all 33 have been successfully pulled out alive.The Chilean governement's cctv network that had been piping the live footage of the resuce estimated that more than 1 billion people tuned in to watch the rescue at some point.

In all it took less than 24 hours and all of the miners were in good spirits and condition,finally reunited with there families.

God bless the miners,their families and the rescue workers who worked tirelessly around the clock to save these men.

Yes they certainly made it out.This truly is a miracle come true and what a happy ending to see all of those men finally reunited with their weary family members.




truly an inspiring tale.

Magnificent good ending.

A true tale of the humanity in humanity.

Today they released all but 2 of the miners from hospitals.About 2 dozen of them met with several high ranking Chilaen public officials today including Chile's president.They have become a symbol of the human faith concept known as hope.Just by surviving and taking care of one another,these men defied the odds against them and inspired the world around them.Congratualtions to them all!

Absolutely magnificent!

I knew from the beggining when they first reported on BBC that they were still alive underground thatthis would wind up with a good ending lol.Yay! good for them and their families.

Its amazing how many people worked to bring these men home safely and even more amazing how none of them were seriously injured.

Sometimes miracles do happen.

Few moments in life do we get to see a mircle like this one.The last one that I can remember,or atleast the last one that they made a movie about was Appolo 13 lol.

There really is nothing more inspiring then witnessing or being a part of a true hero or miracle story,and considering the grave circumstances,plus the fact that all 33 made it out aliveand in good health and spirits,this was nothing less than miraculous.I put this up there with the greatest Devil upsets of alltime haha (you know like in sports where things dont go according to script in the post season lol?).

This has truly been and inspiring month thus far.The Chile mining drama ends witha great ending and my sister nowon her way to recieve a prestigious award at the Hollywood Film Festival for excellence in her video skit.Things couldnt be better lol.

Talk about overcoming diversity lol...