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Chilean miners will use explosives to blast space for rescue capsule

The 33 trapped Chilean miners will have to use explosives to blast a space at the bottom of the rescue shaft big enough for the capsule that will raise them to the surface, according to the mining minister.

Chile rescue capsule
The rescue capsule that will eventally be lowered into the San Jose mine to rescue the trapped miners Credit: Photo: REX

Laurence Golborne said once the drill had completed the 2,067ft shaft to reach the men – a breakthrough expected by Saturday morning – an area would have to be created for the capsule, dubbed the Phoenix to land.

“We have to blast some rock so that the Phoenix can land safely to be loaded with its passenger,” the minister said on Friday. “The miners will have to use dynamite to make the space.”

He said that it was a low risk operation. “These men are miners and used to dealing with such things. Some are trained in the use of dynamite and will carry out a controlled explosion.”

“We have no choice but to ask the men themselves to do the job because until they do no one can get down there.”

Although the Chilean miners will likely be reached within 24 hours, it will still take days to hoist them to the surface one at a time.

Jaime Manalich, the health minister, said it would likely be Tuesday before the first of the miners was lifted to the surface.