Drilling begins at Chilean mine

Описание

<p> Rescuers have begun drilling an escape shaft to save 33 miners trapped after a cave-in at Chile's San Jose gold and copper mine. </p><p> The bid to rescue the miners, stuck in a hot and humid tunnel half a mile underground, could take between two and four months. The government has turned to Nasa and submarine experts for help. </p><p> Striving to keep the men physically and mentally fit for the wait ahead, doctors sent flu vaccinations and nicotine gum for smokers in withdrawal down a tiny shaft the size of a grapefruit, the men's umbilical cord to the outside world. </p><p> Rescuers started drilling a 2ft-diameter shaft on Monday evening that will be used to evacuate the miners one at a time in a cage attached to a pulley. </p><p> Engineers are also looking into other options to speed up the rescue, including digging a second escape duct that could take about 60 days. </p>