World

Chile to start freeing miners on Tuesday night

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-10-12 09:56

Chilean medical doctor Jean Romagnoli shows journalists a device that will be used to monitor the vital signs of the trapped miners as they are lifted individually to the surface in a capsule, at the San Jose mine in Copiapo Oct 11, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

Rescue officials said they would push ahead boring a separate shaft with a rig usually used to drill for oil as a back-up plan. They have halted a third drill.

In a country still recovering from a devastating February earthquake, celebrations broke out across Chile when the drill boring the escape shaft reached the miners on Saturday.

More relatives of the miners arrived at the settlement known as "Camp Hope" near the mine entrance on Monday morning as they count down the hours amid growing anticipation.

"I'm so tired. It's been far too many days doing nothing, just sitting waiting," Alicia Campos, whose son Daniel Herrera is among the trapped miners, said as she lined up for a fish sandwich at the tent settlement.

She wants her son to take up another profession.

After weeks of prayers, vigils and agonizing waiting, anxiety is giving way to joy as wives, parents and children count down to reunions with their loved ones.

Surprises await the miners on the surface. They have been invited to Spain to watch a Real Madrid soccer game and to Britain to see Manchester United play. They also have been promised a free week-long vacation in the Greek islands and have been given $10,000 each by a flamboyant singer-turned-mining magnate.