Following the major set back of the drill snapping on platform 3 only a week ago, the drilling equipment has been pounding the rock below the ground, keeping the hopes of the 33 miners extremely high.
One of the drilling platforms last night broke through the top of a passage close to where the miners are located, using a 12 inch diameter drill bit behind a 6 inch diameter pilot drill. This meant that the hole which measures 633 meters (2070 feet) could well be completed before the early part of December, all being well.
Now this first stage has been completed ahead of the estimated entrance time, the platform will now be set up with a 28 inch drill to elongate the whole wide enough for the miners to be pulled to safety and reunited with their families and loved ones.
Throughout this difficult time, the miners have been keeping a video of everything from below the surface including games they are playing and also a diary for the news and media. But, just as they were about to rest on Friday night the drill broke through and complete bedlam set in.
Pictures released to the media showed the miners hugging each other and crying out “Viva Chile!” as well as others who were posing for the camera showing off their broad beaming smiles under the light of the headlamps.
Keeping everything crossed is now the way forward, as experience has shown us with the snapping of the original drill, things can take a shocking turn when you least expect it.
