Drilling has begun as part of an effort to reach the 33 miners who have been trapped underground in Chile for more than three weeks.The effort to drill through more than 2,300 feet (700 meters) of rock and safely extract the workers could take three to four months. The hole currently under way is the excavation hole, where the drill bit will be placed.The miners have been stuck in the desert copper-and-gold mine since an August 5 cave-in and are surviving on supplies funneled to them from above ground through three bore holes, each about four inches in diameter.Rescue officials have said they plan to send down food over the next few days. There are also plans to send down more beds, which is a slow process, said Ximena Mata, the Chilean government’s point person.Until now, the men living in what they have dubbed “Refuge 33″ have been surviving on liquids.All the miners were in good spirits and were looking forward to the promised solid food, the mining company said Monday.Meanwhile, a four-person team from NASA is set to arrive in Chile this week to help provide physical and behavioral health support to the miners.A medical official, a nutritional medic, a psychologist and an engineering expert in logistics from NASA will stay at the mine from Wednesday through Friday to help, Chilean Health Minister Jaime Manalich said.In honor of the brave souls who are in need of a little help from their friends, Tomorrow Pictures.TV presents a film about the lives and familes of miners. WATCH Coal Miners on ENG.
0 Responses to “Refuge 33:”