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All 33 miners rescued
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SAN JOSE MINE, Chile — Hours ahead of schedule, the last of the 33 miners trapped for more than two months 700 metres below the Earth’s surface in Chile was winched from the depths and reunited with family members.
Luis Urzua, the shift supervisor, was raised to the surface through the narrow Phoenix capsule at 8:55 p.m. ET, completing the miraculous rescue of the group which has affectionately become known as “los 33.” An operation officials initially estimated would take anywhere from 36 to 48 hours was wrapped up without incident in less than 24 hours.
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera told the BBC Wednesday he hoped that from now on, when people hear the word Chile “they will not remember the coup d’etat or the dictatorship, they will remember what we’ve done (here) all the Chileans together.”
The president was expected to be transported here, to the nearby town of Copiapo, where a party was in full swing as thousands gathered in front of large screens showing live broadcast of the rescue operation since it started shortly after midnight Wednesday.
Since then, men who had known nothing but murky darkness for almost 70 days finally started seeing the light in the eyes of their families, a light washed by tears of joy.
Wearing sunglasses to protect their eyes from the bright TV lights, camera flashes and the glare of the sun, the miners wept, waved and were welcomed into the arms of loved ones as they emerged, one by one, in a small capsule designed especially for this massive rescue effort.
Just after midnight on Wednesday, Florencio Avalos Silva became the first of the 33 miners to breach the surface, hug his young family, the rescuers and finally, Chilean president. Tears flowed as the entire scene was broadcast to more than one billion people worldwide.
“I am very moved,” said his father, Alfonso. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen him. Knowing the conditions he was living in . . . I’m very happy and very proud of him.”
Florencio’s brother, Renan, was the 25th miner freed.
Florencio’s face was the first the world saw after the miners were discovered alive on Aug. 22. He later got behind the camera, documenting life underground with his fellow miners.
Mario Sepulveda, the second miner to escape, had everyone laughing when his whoops of joy resounded on the surface even before he arrived. He then stepped out of the capsule, opened up a yellow bag, pulled out souvenir rocks from below and began handing them out to the rescuers and even to Pinera.
“I’m so happy!” Sepulveda yelled, grinning, punching his fist in the air and hugging everyone in sight.
However, he also sounded a darkly serious note.
“I have been with God and I’ve been with the devil,” he later said in an interview, calling for deep change to protect workers’ rights.
Sepulveda praised members of his profession.
“We are miners, we are strong people,” he said, adding he would rather media stopped treating the group as “showbiz figures.”
“I would like you to treat me as what I am: a miner,” he said. “I will continue working because this is my fate.”
“Life has given me beautiful things despite treating me hard, as well. But you have to take the right paths in life. I am one of the lucky ones.”
Political leaders were on hand for the rescue.
“We can be prouder than ever of our country,” Pinera, the Chilean president, said moments after the first rescue. “We have shown the best of ourselves to the entire world.”
Pinera, like everyone at the scene, was moved to tears and vowed that the San Jose mine, which has a long history of accidents, will not reopen until the safety of all miners is guaranteed.
Bolivian President Evo Morales thanked the Chilean rescue crews on behalf of his countrymen.
“I want to thank you, the Chilean people, for rescuing our brother (Bolivian) Carlos Mamani and our Chilean brothers,” he said. “Bolivia will never forget this historic event.”
Other heads of state called Pinera to wish the miners well, including German chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Brazilian President Lula da Silva and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement saying “Today, we join the rest of the world in celebrating the best possible outcome: the successful rescue of the miners who returned to their loved ones safe and sound.
“The authorities and volunteers in Chile deserve heartfelt thanks and admiration for their remarkable dedication in bringing about this heroic and inspiring rescue.”
In a release, the prime minister went on to say “Canadians can be proud that Canadian companies participated in the rescue efforts by drilling two backup rescue shafts as well as providing airlift, drilling expertise, generators, temporary housing modules and initial on-site satellite communications.
“On behalf of all Canadians, I extend our country’s warmest wishes to the miners, their families and friends on this truly emotional day. This remarkable triumph over adversity is a tribute to the human spirit.”
As the sun rose over camp Wednesday, the rescued miners were whisked by helicopter to hospital in Copiapo. A massive party was planned at the hospital and the president was expected to be there to join the celebrations.
Early in the day, Health Minister Jaime Manalich said the rescue was going better than planned. The capsule hadn’t suffered any damage and underwent maintenance after every eighth trip, he said. The miners who ascended to the surface so far, are in “good” health, Manalich said.
Esteban Rojas emerged from the mine shortly before 3 p.m. local time Wednesday and said a brief prayer before hugging the mining minister and rescue crews.
Earlier, the youngest man trapped in the mine, Jimmy Sanchez, 19, emerged from his dark cocoon into the morning light.
And later, the man who wrote the simple, but powerful message informing the world that “Los 33” were still alive after more than two weeks trapped in the copper mine with little food and water was pulled to safety on Wednesday morning.
Jose Ojeda, 47, emerged from the rescue capsule just after 6 a.m. local time, waving the Chilean flag before hugging and kissing his daughter on the cheeks several times as tears streamed down their tired but happy faces.
It was Ojeda who wrote the first note to rescue workers and pinned it to the bottom of an exploratory drill after 17 days with no contact with the outside world.
“We are fine in the refuge: los 33,” he wrote.
It was a message heard around the world, and led to the incredible rescue drama.
csolyommontrealgazette.com
