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Young World
Long term help
COMPILED BY ROHINI RAMAKRISHNAN
Thirty-three miners trapped underground in Chile since August 5 have begun receiving glucose, rehydration tablets and medicine. Capsules containing the supplies were sent down a tube, which is the miners' only lifeline. Rescuers made contact with the men recently after lowering a probe some 700m (2,300ft) beneath the surface. The miners have not been told it may take up to four months to get them out, the head of the rescue operation said. Andres Sougarret said it could take that long to drill a new shaft wide enough to pull the men to safety. The miners were trapped when the main access tunnel collapsed. They are located 7km (4.5 miles) inside the mine, in a 50 sq m shelter. The tanks of water inside, along with water from drilling machines and ventilation shafts helped the men to survive. The miners say that they survived on cans of tuna, milk and biscuits which were stored in the shelter. Rescuers aim to drill a 66cm-wide hole to bring the men to the surface one by one.
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