Supplies sent down to trapped miners

[Judi Lynn]

Supplies sent down to trapped miners
August 23, 2010
By Alonso Soto, Reuters

COPIAPO, Chile - Chilean miners still alive 17 days after a cave-in were sent supplies of saline and glucose through a narrow drill hole Monday, and rescuers now face a months-long, half-mile dig to rescue them.

In what relatives called a miracle, the miners Sunday tied a note to a perforation drill that had bored a shaft the circumference of a grapefruit to the refuge where they are sheltered, 2,300 feet vertically underground.

The accident in the small gold and copper mine has shone a spotlight on mine safety in Chile, the world’s No. 1 copper producer, although accidents are rare at major mines. The incident is not seen having a significant impact on Chile’s output.

Mining Minister Laurence Golborne said rescue workers began sending plastic tubes called “doves” containing glucose, hydration gels and liquid nutrients and medicine down to the miners to keep them alive while they dig a new shaft to extract them — which could take up to four months.

More:
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2010/08/23/15113766.html?cid=rssnewslast24hours

[Judi Lynn]

1. Trapped Chilean miners to participate in own rescue

Trapped Chilean miners to participate in own rescue
Bore-hole just 8cm wide will act as 'umbilical cord' and provide route of escape for the 33 men
Jonathan Franklin in Santiago and Paul Lewis
guardian.co.uk, Monday 23 August 2010 20.37 BST

The 33 miners trapped deep underground in a mine in Chile will need to spend the next four months participating in their own rescue before being pulled out by rope, it emerged today.

Rescue workers were tonight set to begin lowering capsules of glucose, hydration gels, liquid nutrients, communication equipment and medicine down a 2,257ft bore hole to the bottom of the San José mine, where the men have been trapped inside a mine shaft for the last 18 days. The rescue work continued as questions began to emerge about the safety record of the mine, with relatives asking why it was allowed to operate.

The men's miraculous tale of survival was communicated to the world yesterday when they attached a note to a probe sent into the shaft. It read: "All 33 of us are well inside the shelter."

The news, confirmed by the Chilean president, Sebastián Piñera, prompted celebrations across the country and jubilant scenes on the surface of the mine, where the men's relatives had established a week-long vigil as they awaited signs of life.

Officials have described the bore hole – which is just 8cm wide – as an "umbilical cord" for the miners. It will attempt to keep them healthy while officials begin drilling a far bigger hole as an escape route for the men, who are trapped in a shelter around 52 sq metres – the size of a small apartment. Rescuers also plan another shaft to ensure ventilation for the miners, who are thought to be enduring temperatures as high as 32C.

More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/23/chile-trapped-miners-rescue

[Judi Lynn]

2. Chile's miracle miners to get love letters, scolds

Chile's miracle miners to get love letters, scolds
1 hour 44 mins ago

Clasping a tattered note scrawled by her husband trapped underground after a mine cave-in 18 days ago, Lilianett Ramirez is composing her first love letter in decades. Skip related content

A note her 63-year-old husband Mario Gomez sent up to the surface on Sunday, promising he would see her soon, moved a whole nation still recovering from a massive February earthquake as rescuers learned that 33 miners buried alive since August 5 had survived.

Now Ramirez, 51, faces an agonizing wait of three to four months as engineers drill a new shaft to evacuate the men, who survived in a refuge deep underground drinking water from drilling machines and thanks to ventilation shafts.

Engineers began sending plastic tubes called "doves" containing glucose, hydration gels and liquid nutrients and medicine down to the miners on Monday to keep them alive. They plan to include letters as well.

"Can you imagine? After 30 years of marriage we will start sending each other love letters again," Ramirez said, giggling despite exhaustion after camping out in a plastic tent at the mine head's "Camp Hope" for nearly three weeks waiting for news of the miners' fate.

"I want to tell him that I love him so much. I want to tell him that things will be different, that we will have a new life," she said. "I will wait as long as I need to see my husband again."

Rescue workers found the note from her husband tied around a perforation drill used to try and locate the miners some 2,300 feet (700 metres) below ground.

"I will see you soon and we will be happy ever after," he had scribbled.

More:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20100823/twl-uk-chile-mine-survival-bd5ae06.html

[bemildred]

3. Run a beer tube down there while you're at it ... nt

[Billy Burnett]

4. Great news.

Thanks for posting this.


:hi:

[Peace Patriot]

5. Lord how I love rescue stories! Thanks for posting!

These miners have more space than I'd imagined them having. I was worried that they were in a cramped space under piles of rubble, possibly with injuries--a living hell. This is much more hopeful than I'd expected, considering how long they may have to be down there. They can move around, exercise, entertain themselves, create a bit of personal space, sleep. This is very good news. Anybody know if the shelter they are in was a space planned for such an emergency? If so, what is the history of having such refuges inside mines? Are they specially built or chosen for stability? Kudos may be due to the miners who got them to the shelter in time and also to those who fought for having shelters in mines. I'd sure like to know that story.

[Billy Burnett]

6. Unlike the US corporate non union mines ...

... the unionized rescue miners refused to stop.

I guess the mine owner couldn't take out insurance policies on the miners.

Only in America ...

Does your boss want you dead?
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/insurance/p64954.asp