As someone from a state with a large mining industry, I know something of mine safety. Granted, I’m not a miner, and I’ve got no miners in my family, but it’s kind of become something I’ve picked up an interest in. One of the more interesting aspects of the average mine is the safety rooms: basically, it’s a small, underground apartment where miners are supposed to go in case of a collapse in the tunnels to wait out their rescue. At the San Jose mine in Copiapo, Chile, a cave-in forced 33 miners to cram into the space, but that space has saved their life. Now they’re playing the waiting game, as it may take 4 months for the cave-in survivors to be rescued.
While that seems like a long time (and it is a long time), it sure beats the alternative! The challenge now isn’t to stay fit, though the miners have lost about 20 pounds a piece since the cave-in on August 5, but to stay sane. It’s 33 people in a small apartment-sized chamber! However, they will have contact with the outside world via video camera, and will receive food and water via the borehole to the surface.
The miners are about 2,300 feet underground and about 4.5 miles deep into the winding copper mine shafts. The original shaft is too unstable to dig in, so rescue workers will have to dig a new mine shaft down to rescue the men. Hence the 4 months of waiting. Hopefully, someone will pass those guys down a GameBoy to kill some time!
Tags: San Jose Copiapo, miners trapped 2300 feet underground, 33 miners survive cave-in, miners stuck underground for 4 months, San Jose mine, underground shelter, miners saved by underground shelter, miners may be stranded for 4 months underground, Chile, San Jose Mine