Early this year, Chile was struck by a very large magnitude earthquake, the seventh largest ever known. It was a national disaster of widespread destruction, and 500 deaths.
Early this month, 33 miners were trapped underground by a tunnel collapse, at a gold and copper mine in the north of Chile.
Yesterday, government engineers broke through to the trapped miners, still alive after 17 days underground, with a small rescue bore. This was after seven previous failed rescue attempts.
The whole of Chile is crying with joy and emotion.
--President Sebastian Pinera
Drilling a larger bore to get the miners out, one by one, is expected to take until Christmas.
Miner Florencio Avalo, on video link from underground.
Source: Via MSNBC.
Source: Wikipedia x2, Travelpod.
The San José mine is near Copiapó, Atacama Region, northern Chile. The mine is privately owned.
Rescue efforts at the mine, on the fifth day following the collapse.
Source: Wikipedia.
The miracle came in the form of the opening two words of a short note, scribbled in red ink on a crumpled piece of paper. "Estamos bien", the note read. We are well.
For nearly three weeks, relatives of the 33 Chilean miners trapped 700 metres underground in a passage the size of a small apartment had hoped against the odds that their loved ones would be located.
Independent
Trapped nearly half a mile inside the earth and facing perhaps four months before rescue, 33 Chilean miners began accepting food, water and oxygen from above ground Monday as rescue teams worked to gauge their state of mind and brace them for the long wait ahead.
Through a newly installed communications system, each of the men spoke and reported feeling hungry but well, except for one with a stomach problem, a Chilean official said. They requested toothbrushes.
AP via CNN
Now the plan is to carve a wider tunnel, big enough for the men to be pulled out one by one. The equipment necessary for that works more slowly than the drill that made the 15cm-wide shaft used to make first contact.
Times of London
Doctors and others were concerned about the well-being of the miners, who may have to wait four months before rescuers can tunnel them out. The mine, located in the Atacama Desert in Copiapo, can see temperatures of 97 degrees and 90% humidity.
"It's going to be life in extreme conditions for a long time," says Arturo Fermandois the Chilean ambassador to the United States. "Providing food, medication and psychological assistance are also a challenge."
USA Today
President Sebastian Pinera, a conservative billionaire, has interrupted the long string of center-left presidents following the Augusto Pinochet years.
Pinera has put a mining royalty increase under consideration. This may change the dynamics about bill passage.
Earlier this year, Chile, perhaps the most highly regarded mining jurisdiction in Latin America, moved to raise royalties paid by mining companies from 5% to 9% in order to help pay for post-earthquake reconstruction.
Mining Environmental Managment (pdf)
Currently, taxes for mining companies are not supposed to change until 2017, unless they voluntarily agree to pay more. After setting a higher royalty, Pinera's bill would extend the period of tax stability to 2025.
Congress rejected an earlier version of the bill shortly after the quake. At that time, opposition lawmakers said changes to the tax regime merited a wider debate and excluded the measures from a broader bill to fund the quake response.
Analysts say the scenario is now more favorable for Pinera and there is an outpouring of goodwill for workers and less support for mining companies.
"The center-left opposed the new royalty but now it will be difficult for them to oppose," Cuevas said. "I think the rescue effort of the miners could favor the bill's chances."
Reuters