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Journalism of Courage
A new video of 33 men trapped in a mine under Chiles Atacama Desert shows them sending greetings to their families,talking about how they are doing better since receiving food and breaking into tears as they talk about loved ones.
In the video released Sunday,the men are shirtless because of the heat in the mine and wearing what look like white surgical pants,clothing sent down. Most are upbeat,expressing gratitude to their families and the rescuers for the support they are receiving via handwritten notes sent to them through three small bore holes. Authorities also send food,water,medicine and other goods to them through the three holes.
But when it comes time to speak about their wives and children,many of the men break down. Im sending my greetings to Angelica. I love you so much,darling, says 30-year-old Osman Araya,as his voice chokes and he begins to cry. Tell my mother,I love you guys so much. Ill never leave you,I will fight to the end to be with you.
Araya and 32 miners were trapped by the August 5 collapse of the main shaft of the San Jose gold and silver mine in northern Chile. On Monday,the men will equal a mark set by three miners who survived 25 days trapped in a flooded mine in southern China last year. Few other rescues have taken more than two weeks.
In the video,one miner explains to the family of 28-year-old Ariel Ticona that he didnt want to appear on camera because he is shy but that he was sending his love to them and that,according to an unidentified speaker,he is super happy and he is super,super,super well! At one point,the camera pans to a larger group of men,and several animated,joking voices can be heard throughout the tape.
Meanwhile,it has been said the miners will have to aid in their own escape by clearing thousands of tonnes of rock that will fall as a rescue hole is drilled toward them. The miners are going to have to take out all that material as it falls, Andres Sougarret,Codelcos head engineer on the operation,said.
