SAN JOSE – Chile’s mines minister says an attempt to rescue 33 trapped miners will begin in the second half of October – earlier than previously predicted.
Laurence Golborne said the drilling of a rescue shaft to bring the men to the surface was going extremely well and would be completed by October 15.
It will then take several days before rescue capsules can be lowered to the miners, 700 metres (2 300 feet) below ground.
The government had previously said the rescue might happen in early November.
But on Wednesday, one of the drills cut through 50 metres of rock in only 24 hours, raising the hopes of the miners’ relatives and rescuers. (BBC)
