Chilean mine workers rescued

[Mark]

The rescue operation of 33 mine workers who got trapped 69 days ago is finally taking place. Expectations are that it can take up to 2 days before all mine workers are rescued. The first freed mine workers are taken to the hospital where they will stay under observation the next few days. Remarkably is the good physical shape the mine workers are in after an ordeal of 69 days.

The First
With the rescue of Florencio Avalos - at 5.15am Chilean time - comes an end to a nightmare of over 2 months at a depth of about 700 meters. Family members where filled with joy when Mr. Avalos reached the surface. He was quiet and healthy. He first fell in the arms of his family and greeted the Chilean president Sebastián Piñera.

Specialist sent down
One rescue worker was sent down to prepare the waiting mine workers for the upcoming rescue operation. After a handshake of the Chilean president Piñera, Manuel Gonzales, specialist in mine evacuations, was secured in the capsule to be lowered into the mine. He was greeted with cheers of euphoria by the mine workers.

Delays
The rescue operation was planned at midnight local time but due to some problems during checking the material the operation was delayed to 10pm local time.

33 Mine Workers
31 year old Florencio Avalos was the first of 33 trapped mine workers to be hoisted out of the mine shaft. The mine workers are being rescued in the following order. Florencio Avalos, Mario Sepulveda, Juan Illanes, Carlos Mamani, Jimmy Sanchez, Osman Araya, Jose Ojeda, Claudio Yanez, Mario Gomez, Alex Vega, Jorge Galleguillos, Edison Pena, Carlos Barrios, Victor Zamora, Víctor Segovia, Daniel Herrera, Omar Reygadas, Esteban Rojas, Pablo Rojas, Dario Segovia, Yonni Barrios, Samuel Avalos, Carlos Bugueno, Jose Henriquez, Renan Avalos, Claudio Acuna, Franklin Lobos, Richard Villarroel, Juan Aguilar, Raul Bustos, Pedro Cortez, Ariel Ticona, Luis Urzua.



Oldest 63, youngest 19
The mine workers - with the oldest being 63 and the youngest 19 - are being trapped since August 5, the day when the mine shaft collapsed, at a depth of 622 meters. Only 17 days later were the mine workers discovered by rescue workers. First time calculations to save the mine workers talked about Christmas time.

1 hour for 1 mine worker
The mine workers are being rescued one by one. It takes about 20 minutes for 1 mine worker to be hoisted up. With additional preparation total time can take up to 1 hour for 1 mine worker. Total estimation to rescue all mine workers is 48 hours - 2 days.

Computer, overall, protection against light
The mine workers all have to wear a green overall and are being given a blanket: the difference in temperature is 32° celcius. A computer measures their heart beat. Their eyes are being protected for the bright light they will see again after all this time.

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UPDATE:
All 33 mine workers have been rescued. Mr. Luis Urzua, the last mine worker, surfaced Wednesday, October 13 at 10 pm local time.