Once again Chile‘s made international news, this time with the amazing rescue story of the 33 trapped miners who survived living in the refuge 700 metres underground for 69 days. This amazing rescue story has been covered worldwide. In fact, all the classrooms in our building had the live news broadcasting on their interactive whiteboards during the day. But, what you might not know are some of the other stories related to the rescue of the miners which, I suspect, are stories only known by those who watched the local Santiago news. Or in my case, heard over lunch at work.
Rescue plans story: The rescue capsule that transported the miners one by one to the surface was based on a NASA design with specific body size and weight in mind. It was a concern that one of the miners were too large to fit into the capsule (although, after being underground for 69 days with a temperature of over 30 degrees Celsius, he had a good chance of losing the excess weight). If not, the proposed solution? Dislocate both arms to fit into the capsule. The disadvantage? It takes the capsule about 30 minutes to make it to the surface. (Luckily, I did not hear of this happening, so I am assuming that this gentleman made it safely with his shoulders in tack.)
Unfortunate young’un story: The youngest person who was trapped underground wasn’t actually a miner. He, in his early 20s and the youngest of the 33, was a truck driver who was sent to deliver some supplies to the miners.
Love story: After the initial successful contact with the miners, both videos and letters were sent back and forth between those who were above ground and the miners. Many of these letters were for their loved ones. For one miner, he decided to propose to his long-term girlfriend when he came out of the capsule (whom he’d been living with for about ten years). But, I must go back and emphasize the “s” in the words “loved ones” because another miner had not only an ex-wife who came to the mine to watch his rescue but also his lover. It was said that he told his ex-wife that he’ll continue to pay alimony but he’s going to move in with his lover.
To briefly summarize the story of the 33 miners: It started back in late July when the mining company in Mina San José, Copiapo (in the northern desert region of Chile) was directed to shut down due to the lack of safety measures being taken. Then, in August 5, 2010, the mine collapses and the 33 miners were trapped 700m underground: 32 Chileans and 1 Bolivian. 17 days later (August 22), the first contact with the miners was finally made with a mere note saying: “We are good in the refuge the 33.” Then, at 00:12 of October 13, 69 days later, the first of the thirty-three miners was rescued via the capsule. A few of the strongest and healthiest were rescued first, followed by the weakest and most ill, and ending with the healthiest including the captain of the miners.
Video #1: First video contact with the trapped miners after being underground without fresh supplies for 17 days.
Video #2: Rescue of the second miner as he emerges from the space-shuttle-like capsule.
Chile's President Piñera holding miner's note: "We are good in the refuge the 33."
Photo credit: La Razon
Video still of trapped Chilean miners.
Photo credit: Los Angeles Times
Rescue capsule lowered to rescue trapped miners.
“First miners emerge from underground”, Santiago Times (October 13, 2010) The English newspaper of Santiago.
“Reencuentro de Florencio Ávalos con su familia dio inicio al rescate de los 33″, El Mercurio (October 13, 2010) A detailed article from the perspective of the father of the first miner rescued.
Cartoon sent to me from a friend 
