Let’s all pray to keep the flame of hope burning brightly for these guys.
On the 24th August, Learning from Dogs published a piece about 33 Chilean miners trapped underground. I’m sure many read that.
Well the BBC are still covering the event and their news web site has an informative update on what is happening.
The plan to rescue the 33 men trapped 700m (2,300ft) underground in the San Jose copper mine in Chile is a complex undertaking that could take engineers until the end of the year to achieve.
In a similar operation in 2002, American rescuers spent two days drilling a hole just wide enough to fit a man to rescue nine miners trapped underground.
The Americans had to drill down just 74m. By comparison, the plan to rescue the 33 men in Chile nearly three quarters of a kilometre underground is a much greater challenge. But, says John Urosek, who took part in the 2002 Quecreek mine rescue in Pennsylvania, it is not “mission impossible.”
“I would put this at the tough end of things. It’s not mission impossible but it’s a difficult mission,” says Mr Urosek who is now chief of mine emergency operations for the US Mine Safety and Health Administration.
The key to the operation is the use of a specialist drilling machine, designed to bore deep narrow holes through any rock to a depth of just over a kilometre.
Do read the article in full on the BBC site.
RUC Cementation in Australia have an interesting website that includes pictures of the Strata 950 bore machine that will be sinking the rescue shaft.
Best of luck to all involved and to all the families and friends having to sit this out!
By Paul Handover
Learning from Dogs 
Hi,
Yes you have to feel for these men trapped underground, and I certainly hope that they do eventually get them out. I just couldn’t imagine what it must be like for them what a terrible thing to have to go through. Also for the family’s that are also waiting and hoping that all works out.
Thank You for putting in the links to the machine, what an awesome piece of machinery.
LikeLike