SAN JOSE MINE, Chile – Chile’s 33 trapped miners finally have a way out.
A drill broke through to their cavern more than 2,000 feet underground, creating a shaft just wide enough for a specially designed escape capsule to pass through.
The sound of the siren that signalled the breakthrough thrilled the miners’ families and spread joy across a nation that sees the rescue drama as a test of Chile’s character.
President Sebastian Pinera says what might have been a tragedy has become a blessing. A record 66 days have passed since their gold and copper mine collapsed above them, and the 33 miners are now just days away from reaching the outside world.