Chilean authorities are today examining ways to speed up the rescue of 33 miners trapped underground after officials warned they may have to wait months to be rescued.
Rescuers will today start digging a shaft about 66cm in diameter that would take three months to reach the miners, who have been trapped 700 metres underground since August 5th. They would be lifted up one by one with a pulley.
Mining minister Laurence Golborne said rescuers were considering other options, including digging a second escape shaft to rescue the miners, who survived for two weeks on mouthfuls of tinned tuna, biscuits and milk.
Officials said yesterday they were considering drilling a second shaft closer to the tunnel where the miners are located that would take about 60 days to reach them.
"Obviously we are looking into other options and we will welcome any option that speeds up the rescue," Mr Golborne told reporters at the mine in the rugged mountains of the Atacama desert near the city of Copiapo.
"We are very happy. Any possibility of bringing them out sooner is great news," said Cristina Nunez (26), whose husband, Claudio, is trapped underground.
The miners were found alive last Sunday after they tied a note to a drill looking for them underground, triggering celebrations across Chile and focusing world attention on what would be the toughest mining rescue ever attempted.
In a video released this week, bearded miners explained how they organised themselves to survive in a tiny refuge in the bowels of the mountain. They said they had areas designated to sleep and play dominoes as well as a space for water and items like toothpaste and deodorant.
Government officials are worried five of the men have started to show signs of depression after they did not appear in a video filmed by the miners.
The government is bringing in NASA experts for tips on how to help the miners cope with lengthy confinement.
Rescuers have started to lower card games, miniature video projectors and MP3 players to battle boredom inside the hot and humid tunnel.
The San Jose mine accident has put the spotlight on safety conditions in the world's top copper producer where authorities have closed at least 30 small mines this month.
The government has also promised changes to safety regulation, although stricter controls and closures of small mines are unlikely to dent copper output significantly.
Meanwhile, Pope Benedict said today he is praying constantly for the miners and urged them to remain calm as efforts continue to free them.
Benedict assured the men and their families that he was spiritually close to them and was praying for a "happy conclusion" to their ordeal.
He was speaking in Spanish to pilgrims gathered for his traditional Sunday blessing, delivered from the courtyard of the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo in the Alban hills south of Rome.
Agencies