Copiapo (Chile):
Workers in Chile expect to be able to rescue 33 trapped miners by mid-October, rather than early November as originally anticipated, a news report said on Tuesday.
The daily El Mercurio newspaper, citing unnamed government sources, reported that officials said state-of-the-art drilling equipment at the scene has made faster-than-expected progress in efforts to reach the men, who have been trapped underground since an August 5 mine collapse.
"There is a chance of completing the operation before President (Sebastian) Pinera departs for Europe on the 15th" of October, one official was quoted by the newspaper as saying.
Shortly after the mine collapse, Chilean authorities warned that it was unlikely that they would be able to free the men before Christmas, but later said a rescue could take place as early as November.
Speaking this past Sunday, Mining Minister Laurence Golborne said he would not officially change the rescue timeline, but nevertheless suggested it could happen more quickly than originally anticipated.
"We have always spoken of the first days of November, but the plans now are slightly ahead of schedule," he said.
"We are gaining a day here and a day there, but we do not claim victory or generate unrealistic expectations, since we are talking about an inexact science," Golborne said, noting the complexities and safety concerns of drilling through layers of granite rock.
The rescue effort involves digging down more than 600 meters to get to the miners trapped since a cave-in August 5.
The men - 32 Chileans and one Bolivian - have survived underground longer than anyone on record.
They are being supplied with food, water, medicine and entertainment through three supply holes, which also carry communication lines to the surface, where family members have been camped at the entrance.
The daily El Mercurio newspaper, citing unnamed government sources, reported that officials said state-of-the-art drilling equipment at the scene has made faster-than-expected progress in efforts to reach the men, who have been trapped underground since an August 5 mine collapse.
"There is a chance of completing the operation before President (Sebastian) Pinera departs for Europe on the 15th" of October, one official was quoted by the newspaper as saying.
Shortly after the mine collapse, Chilean authorities warned that it was unlikely that they would be able to free the men before Christmas, but later said a rescue could take place as early as November.
Speaking this past Sunday, Mining Minister Laurence Golborne said he would not officially change the rescue timeline, but nevertheless suggested it could happen more quickly than originally anticipated.
"We have always spoken of the first days of November, but the plans now are slightly ahead of schedule," he said.
"We are gaining a day here and a day there, but we do not claim victory or generate unrealistic expectations, since we are talking about an inexact science," Golborne said, noting the complexities and safety concerns of drilling through layers of granite rock.
The rescue effort involves digging down more than 600 meters to get to the miners trapped since a cave-in August 5.
The men - 32 Chileans and one Bolivian - have survived underground longer than anyone on record.
They are being supplied with food, water, medicine and entertainment through three supply holes, which also carry communication lines to the surface, where family members have been camped at the entrance.
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