El rescate: Vive los 33 mineros!

Just minutes ago, I watched the 33rd miner as he was rescued from la mina San José. These past 24 hours have been absolutely amazing--watching the news and being able to see as each miner arose to the surface. The operation began very late last night at about 11pm. I woke up this morning, turned on the tv, and watched miners 12, 13, 14, and 15 be rescued. Today I went to classes, and when I got home, I was able to watch the last 4 miners escape. It took about 15 minutes for each miner to make the journey inside the Phoenix capsule up the shaft, which was 624m (2,047ft) long.

The 33 men were discoverd alive on August 22, 17 days after the mine collapsed. Those 17 days were full of stress, not only for the families of the miners, but for the country and the world. The uncertainty was unbearable. When we found out they were alive, the country sighed in relief, but prayed for an imminent rescue. The miners were in the mine for 69 days, the longest period of time ever to have stayed in a mine. Watching the miners arrive on earth's surface has been utterly amazing and emotional. President Piñera was at the top of the shaft to greet each miner upon their arrival, and then

gave a speach when they were all rescued. He is hoping people will think of this successful rescue instead of human rights violations and natural disasters when they hear "Chile." Seeing the miners hug their wives, children, and loved ones is something so wonderful that truly cannot be described with words.

What a happy day for Chile!