Chile aims to start evacuating miners on Wednesday

COPIAPO, Chile (Reuters) – Chilean rescue workers on Wednesday will likely start to evacuate 33 miners trapped deep underground after finishing drilling an escape shaft, Mining Minister Laurence Golborne said yesterday.

Rescuers finished the rescue shaft yesterday morning.

The T130 drilling machine (L) which has dug the escape tunnel closest to the 33 miners who are trapped deep underground inside a copper and gold mine, is seen at a San Jose mine near Copiapo October 8, 2010. REUTERS/Luis Hidalgo