How was the 700-meter rescue tunnel created in the Chilean mining disaster? time is so short

August 23, 2010

The pipeline lifelines connecting underground miners and surface rescuers have been successfully opened one after another. Food, drinking water, medicine and other necessities are flowing through the pipelines continuously. were sent underground from the surface, and the miners seemed to be in good spirits.

September 3, 2010

In the blink of an eye, the mining disaster has occurred for nearly a month. The Chilean authorities have accelerated the study of rescue plans. Heavy drilling machines have arrived at the mining area and begun to dig rescue shafts.

But this rescue can be described as the most difficult one in history. There is a rock layer hundreds of meters thick above the miners' heads. When drilling the escape channel, a slight mistake may trigger the unstable formation and cause a fire. Collapse, but also to prevent the 4,000-ton stone excavated from falling into the refuge room where the miners are. The excavation operation was blocked many times and the rescue was once again in trouble.

However, the miners underground enjoyed their hardships and watched a friendly football match between Chile and Ukraine through a small TV receiver sent underground by rescuers. Chilean players all wore T-shirts with the slogan "Come on Miners" to encourage the trapped miners. This made the miners trapped for a month inexplicably excited and created a live football broadcast closest to the center of the earth in history.

A few days later, with the cry of a baby, the wife of the trapped miner Ticona gave birth to his daughter. Ticona sent a note from the underground, hoping to name the child Esperanza Elizabeth, which means hope in Spanish.

September 18, 2010

As the family members were anxious, Chile ushered in the 200th anniversary of its independence, and good news came from the rescue work: the first person to arrive was The hole in the trapped position was opened that day, and the miners sang and danced excitedly underground.

A week later, the rescue capsule manufactured by the Chilean Naval Shipyard arrived at the mining area, and large steel pipes used to reinforce the walls of the rescue shaft also arrived one after another. At this point, people finally saw the hope of the trapped miners escaping to heaven.

On October 9, one of the rescue shafts completed the excavation of the entire 624-meter tunnel, and the final rescue operation for the 33 miners is expected to start as soon as possible. The people present immediately cheered, applauded, prayed and sang.

After the rescue channel was opened, Chilean engineers began laying the inner wall, using metal pipes to reinforce the 100-meter tunnel close to the ground to prevent collapse.

On October 11, the preparation work finally came to an end. Engineers completed the laying of the inner tubes of the tunnel and the test of the rescue cabin. Chilean Mining Minister Golvoone announced that the rescue plan is expected to be successfully completed.

On October 12, the rescue module successfully completed its last test. Everything performed well and the final rescue operation was ready.

October 13, 2010

Finally, after a long 69-day wait, the well-lifting operation officially began.

The first rescued miner, Avalos, slowly rose to the surface from a depth of 625 meters in a red, white and blue "Phoenix" rescue capsule specially designed by the Chilean military.

Everything went well, and Avalos finally saw the light of day again. The 7-year-old son who had been waiting at the scene for a long time cried and rushed towards his father, and the family of three hugged each other tightly.

About an hour later, the second miner Sepulveda also ascended the shaft in the rescue capsule, and thunderous cheers came from the scene. The first thing he did when he stepped out of the rescue cabin was to hug his wife who was waiting anxiously. Then he took out a number of underground ores and gave them to the rescue workers and the president present.

In this way, every 45 minutes to an hour later, a miner wearing special moisture-proof antibacterial clothing and special protective glasses successfully ascended the well.

With the smooth lifting of the mine foreman Ursuya, all 33 miners escaped smoothly and were sent to the hospital after a brief reunion with their families.

Chilean President Pinera personally sealed the rescue channel and announced the successful completion of the rescue work at the San Jose copper mine.

The whole country of Chile was filled with joy.

At this point, the 69 days of life and death rescue came to a successful end. In addition to the miners’ composure in the face of death, the long rescue time and the unremitting efforts of all parties, what we can remember is, There are only these pairs of watching eyes and tears of joy.