11:12PM EST: The first of 33 miners trapped for 69 days in a collapsed mine a half-mile underground has reached the surface.
Florencio Avalos, 31, a foreman, was winched to freedom inside a slim capsule pulled through the 28-inch-wide shaft that had been drilled to reach the men’s underground refuge. He emerged to ecstatic cheers from rescue workers and the families of the miners, but was shielded from the view of the reporters who had arrived from around the world to cover the dramatic event.
The other miners are expected to be rescued at a rate of about one an hour, barring accidents or obstacles. The plan is to have the last of the miners on the surface within two days. Luis Urzua, 54, who emerged as the leader of the miners during the ordeal, is to be the last out.
Miners’ relatives, government officials and media representatives all eagerly awaited the first sign of a successful rescue on what was the 69th day of captivity for the men. President Sebastian Pinera arrived at the mine Tuesday to see the rescue efforts and greet the miners.
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(Source: LA Times)
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5 Responses
Wonderful news. So happy for the families. Baruch Hashem the efforts to save these men are on the way.
This is a great simcha. Baruch Hashem, the miners will all be saved. It brings such great joy even to see just the 1st miner come up.
Chazal say that even when the sword lays on one’s neck one is not to give up hope. It says in tehillim that those that recognize there is a Greater Being in the world will be saved. This episode proves them both to be true!
Chasdei Hashem, the miracles these men were granted…an article I read reported that they saw a little white butterfly suddenly emerge before them that caused them all to stop and look. While looking, the rocks came tumbling down in the passageway ahead of them. Unbelievable.
Baruch Hashem, hope everything continues to go smoothly.
There may be some fireworks when number 21 is brought up.