End in Sight for Chilean Miners

Chilean President Sebastián Piñera said Monday that the 33 trapped miners could be rescued by mid-October. In a nationally broadcast radio interview, Piñera said he hoped they would be free by the time he leaves for Europe on Oct. 17, and he said he is considering postponing his trip so he could be at the mine at the time of the rescue. Thirty-three miners were trapped in a gold and copper mine almost 60 days ago—in August—after a cave-in. All were discovered alive after contact was made on August 22, and although original estimates said they wouldn’t be out until Christmas, Mining Minister Laurence Golborne recently said they could be free by the end of October. The miners have been working steadily to remove the earth and rocks that fall as the drill widens the thin shaft that rescue workers used to contact them.