Jubilation erupts as Chile rescues trapped miners

Jubilation erupts as Chile rescues trapped miners

Shouts of joy and chanting filled the air as Chilean rescuers hoisted Florencio Avalos from the mine in which he and 32 others remained trapped for the last 69 days.

Avalos went outside the custom-made rescue capsule and into the arms of family members who were anxiously waiting for him to emerge from the abyss in an emotional display of human determination.

It took 14 minutes for Avalos, who was squeezed inside the 28-inch vessel, to travel through the depth of the rescue shaft before he regained his freedom.

Avalos embraced his wife, his crying 7-year old son, and Chile’s president Sebastian Pinera.

The rescue of the trapped miners was the culmination of the 69-day old ordeal that started August 5 when a portion of the San Jose mine collapsed which blocked the exit.

Officials and rescue workers faced technical delays because of the nature of the rock and the complexity of the rescue attempt.

Technician Manuel Gonzalez, a member of the rescue team, descended and joined the trapped men earlier to the delight of the miners as seen via an underground camera.

“We made a promise to never surrender and we kept it,” Pinera said.

Avalos was being taken to a clinic nearby for a medical evaluation as the second miner to be rescued, Mario Sepulveda, emerged from the hole.

“The day we have waited for so long has finally arrived,” Mario’s sister Ana Maria Sepulveda said.

The rescue capsule is fitted with an oxygen mask, compression stocks, and a belt that measures vital signs.

Chilean Mining Minister Laurence Golborne said that the mission is yet to be completed. “We are really working as fast as possible to get these miners out,” said Golborne in a press conference .

The riveting scenes in Chile were broadcast around the world by most media outlets.

Officials said that they hope to rescue all of those trapped within 48 hours.

Posted by George Daniels on Wednesday October 13 2010, 9:26 AM EST. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, World. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0