Chilean Mining Collapse
Photo Credit: Luis Hidalgo-Google Images.
The entrance to the collapsed San Jose mine.
September 8, 2010
Filed under News, Top Stories
On August 5th 2010, a mine in the country of Chile collapsed, trapping 33 miners 2,297 feet underground. The news did not come out until August 17th that all of the 33 miners were alive, and safe – for now.
The collapse happened at the San Jose mine near Capiapo, Chile. In efforts to rescue the miners, experts have drilled a bore hole 4 inches in diameter down to the area where the miners are trapped. Through that hole they are sending down the supplies they need to survive for as long as needed. They are also pumping oxygen down through that hole. Although the people drilling will play a huge part in the survival of the minors, the 33 of them down there will also have to help out the people drilling, by moving the rocks that fall down through the main exit hole. If they don’t, the rocks would pile up and it would slow the process dramatically.
When citizens found out that the workers were alive, there were tears of joy, and people were lining the streets cheering. Unfortunately most of the news did not reach Hawaii for weeks after the collapse. Jackson Shimanoff, a junior at Le Jardin academy said, “It is ridiculous how I heard about it in comparative government about a week ago, which was like 2 weeks after it had actually happened, and its huge news.”
Other people are wondering why this mine collapse is such big news. “I think that the miners will be safe sooner or later, considering the technology we have now days. So I don’t really know why this is such big news,” said Colton Campbell a senior at Le Jardin. Yes, our technology is at a very high level, but any mistake when dealing with a mine collapse could be deadly. The whole mine could collapse again with any minor error in the drilling process.
About a week and a half ago, they stuck a camera through the bore hole, and all of the miners got to say something to their loved ones in a 45 minute video. Most of the miners seem to be upbeat and healthy so far, except one who has a small stomach problem. As of Monday August 30th, the drilling process of the main hole has begun. Officials are saying that it is likely they will get all of the miners out within 90-120 days.