Over the Edge + October 20, 2010

news 3

Chilean Miners Finally Free
Drill reaches trapped miners 622 meters below surface

Emergency workers pull out one of the miners who was encased in a capsul to ensure his safety

HANNA PETERSEN

NEWS EDITOR

More than two months ago, before the fall semester had even begun, a mine collapsed
in Chile trapping 33 men beneath layers of volcanic rock. However, the end of the ordeal
recently began when a drill finally broke through the rock to reach the men. The men had
been trapped for 66 days before they were freed, making this the longest known time that
miners have survived such a collapse.

The mine, a gold and copper exploration near the northern city of Coprapo, caved in on
August 5‘. The men were not discovered until 17 days later when a small hole was built
to reach the miners, which allowed them to send messages informing the rescuers of their
status. The miners made use of the hole, not only to send messages and videos to their
families and loved ones, but also to receive supplies such as fresh food, razors, and lamps,
while they anxiously awaiting their rescue throughout the ordeal.

The drilling created a rescue shaft only two feet wide and 622 deep, forcing the men to be
lifted to safety one-by-one. Engineers also decided to line the upper walls of the rescue shaft
with steel pipes to prevent rocks from tumbling into the shaft and blocking the way. A doctor
advised the rescuers on which men to be lifted out first based on medical and psychological
necessity.

The engineers organized metal capsules barely the bigger than the size of an average man
to lift the survivors above ground. The capsule also spun on its way to the surface, a journey
that was predicted to take anywhere

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from 15 minutes to an hour. Armed with hundreds of contingency plans, the rescuers also
tested the capsule missions prior to the October 13" rescue date. Rescuers were concerned
about nausea and heart palpitations due to the spinning, even though the miners were
given aspirin to thin their blood and a special NASA formulated diet to reduce nausea. After
the seventeenth man was rescued free of these symptoms, it became clear that spinning
capsules were not much of a problem.

The men were monitored when in the capsules to ensure a safe trip. The capsule, named
the Phoenix, was equipped with a video camera, two-way-voice communication, and oxygen
masks to prevent panic-attacks. After their rescue and brief meeting with loved ones, the men
were whisked off in a 10 minute helicopter ride to a nearby hospital where they will receive
treatment for the various ailments that would naturally be acquired from spending more than
two months in a buried mine. The miners will be physically and psychologically tested and
treated in a darkened hospital ward, as they will be sensitive to light for the initial stages of
their recovery.

The entire ordeal and the endurance of the miners is undoubtedly harrowing. The magnitude
of the story and the good fortune of the rescued miners has caused some superstitious
people to acknowledge certain numerical coincidences that occurred since the miners were
trapped. The mine collapse trapped 33 miners, it took 33 days for the drill to reach the miners,
and the first of the miners emerged on October 13, 2010 or 10/10/13.

The numbers of this date when added together equal thirty-three. For all intents and purposes,
It must be a lucky number.

Gold For Green Contest at UNBC

Your green ideas could help you $1000

In light of UNBC’s recent win for excellence in
Campus sustainability, a contest is being held

to see what kind of green ideas are brewing in
the minds of local students. Three simple steps
could bring you that much closer to winning one
of 10 prize packs valued at $150. In addition,
one lucky winner will be chosen to recieve $1000
cash prize from Integris Credit Union.

UNBC

must be 200 words or less.

students inspiration

Step One: Sign on to facebook and “like”

Step Two: Write down the reason why you
deserve Gold For Being Green. Submissions

Step Three: Post your submission of
UNBC’s wall and get all your friends to vote for
it. The top ten submission with the most “likes”
win win the prize packs. All submissions are due
by November 5, 2010 @ 12 noon.

Good Luck Everyone!

UNBC WEBSITE

‘The contest prizes are located in the UNBC bookstore to give