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Breaking: Chilean Miners On Their Way to the Surface, One by One

by Orlando 10/13/2010 - 1:36 am   |

Updated: I awoke this morning to the fantastic news that all of the miners are on the surface, as of approximate 1 am, GMT. Two rescue workers are also up. Three men still underground.

 

As of 6:30 a.m. GMT, the first three miners are out. The BBC has a fantastic live feed and live blog, which you can see here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11489439

 

What a great thing.  It's must be a terrifying thing to spend 20 minutes in that uber-confining little capsule.  I hope they each got a couple valiums before the trip. 

by we are stardust 10/13/2010 - 6:25 am

I can hardly breathe thinking about it.  I wonder if they can sit down or if they have to stand the whole way?

by AmiBlue 10/13/2010 - 2:18 pm (re: we are stardust)

Looking at the little tube, I'd imagine 'stand'.  Surely they got meds!!!  though I can see they might not want to say that to the public just yet.  Lotta praying going on on the ride up, I'd guess.  But some hellish incentive to get in the capsule, eh?

by we are stardust 10/13/2010 - 3:26 pm (re: AmiBlue)

They apparently didn't get any sedatives for the trip up because they needed to be alert in case the capsule got stuck and they had to evacuate from the bottom and climb back down. That's why they sent up the strongest ones in the first few trips. 

by Orlando 10/13/2010 - 10:12 pm (re: we are stardust)

If I was riding in that thing and it got stuck, I would certainly evacuate from the bottom. Drugs or no drugs.

by acanuck 10/14/2010 - 2:46 am (re: Orlando)

I just leave this here.

by DF 10/14/2010 - 3:56 am (re: acanuck)

I'll bookmark that. Thanks.

by acanuck 10/14/2010 - 1:37 pm (re: DF)

Thanks for the link to BBC, Orlando. I watched the rescue process until about 3am, moved by such a clear demonstration that it is possible for people to devote their intelligence, expertise, and heart to a common, constructive purpose. 

I also wondered -- whatever class and economic divisions are prevalent in Chile, it was notable that the country's president was on hand, obviously involved beyond political expediency. Which of our presidents would have done the same? I can't think of one, can you? Our presidents tend to make flyby stops well after the event, rather than pariticpating in the moment. A lesson to be learned, maybe?

by wws 10/13/2010 - 8:51 am

Thanks, Orlando.  Great to have happy news like this, isn't it?  I read about the rescue operation last night before I went to bed and, just now when I went downstairs to the cafeteria for my salad, I saw one of the miners come up in his capsule thanks to CNN.  Everyone in the cafeteria was glued to the television and they were all smiling and/or cheering -- it's really good to see that.  And I'm very impressed with the Chilean President and how he's handled the crisis, and put all his time, thought and concern into the rescue effort.  Other politicians should be watching and taking note.

by LisB 10/13/2010 - 1:25 pm

I'm holding my breath. It's almost more than I can bear to watch as the capsule approaches the top.

Does anyone know who owns this mine?  Is it privately owned or governement owned?  I've been thinking about this a lot. I have a very hard time imagining a private mining company in the U.S. first providing the safe rooms apparently available to these men, and second, spending the money necessary to rescue them.  This Chilean operation must have cost a huge amount of money.

by AmiBlue 10/13/2010 - 2:16 pm

P.S.  Thank you for that BBC link, Orlando.

by AmiBlue 10/13/2010 - 2:16 pm (re: AmiBlue)

I predict that this will inspire a new ride at Six Flags.

by Donal 10/13/2010 - 2:52 pm

Wonderful, wonderful news.

by Doctor Cleveland 10/13/2010 - 5:55 pm

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