Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Trapped Chilean miners found alive

Updated at 7:36 pm on 23 August 2010

Chilean president Sebastian Pinera says 33 miners trapped underground for more than two weeks after a cave-in have been located alive.

A small-bore drill has reached a tunnel near where the miners sought refuge nearly 700 metres underground.

Mr Pinera said the miners attached a message to the drill to say they were all alive.

It was the first contact with the men since the collapse at a small gold and copper mine in the Atacama desert near the northern city of Copiapo on 5 August, Reuters reports.

Relatives who have been camped at the mine since the collapse hugged and kissed each other as news of the message which was on a piece of paper tied to the drill reached them.

Narrow plastic tubes with food, hydration gels, a camera and microphone will be lowered down the narrow borehole.

There are also deposits of water and ventilation shafts that could help the miners survive.

Rescuers earlier said it could take 120 days to dig a new tunnel to reach the miners after the main mine ramp collapsed.

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