Trapped Chilean miners still alive after 17 days

Miners who have been trapped for more than two weeks in a mine in Chile sent a note through a shaft Sunday saying they were alive and in good condition. The note, which came up from 700 metres underground, assured engineers and family members that the miners were together inside an emergency shelter.

AFP

"All 33 of us are well inside the shelter," the note said.

A remote-operated camera lowered down a bore hole later showed the miners in the shelter, apparently in good condition and high spirits.

"Many of them approached the camera and put their faces right up against it, like children, and we could see happiness and hope in their eyes," Chilean president Sebastian Pinera said.

He added the images "gave me a lot of happiness and faith that this is going to end well."

Emergency teams said the miners had some water and lights and that they were to receive food and more water that they would have to carefully ration.

The San Jose gold and copper mine near the northern Chilean city of Copiapo collapsed on 5 August.

The miners are likely to remain underground for some time, according to Andres Sougarret, the chief engineer in the rescue operation, who said it would take "at least 120 days" to drill a shaft large enough to bring them out.

Friends and family at the site celebrated the news of their survival by cheering and waving a Chilean flag.

"They'll come out thin and dirty, but whole and strong, because the miners have shown they have courage and mettle, which is what has kept them together," Pinera said.