Sixty-six agonising days after their gold and copper mine collapsed above them, 33 miners are anxiously awaiting a way out as a drill carved into the last layers of rock above their underground purgatory.
Outside the mine, relatives staying in the tents and motor homes known as "Camp Hope" spent a restless night waiting to hear the siren blast that would announce the drill's success.
The "Plan B" drill was poised to win a three-way race against two other drills to carve a hole wide enough for an escape capsule to pull the miners out one by one.
Officials said that the "Plan B" drill was nearing the miners at a point 2,047 feet below the surface.
Mining Minister Laurence Golborne estimated the drill would break through at some point on Saturday.
Sixty-six agonising days after their gold and copper mine collapsed above them, 33 miners are anxiously awaiting a way out as a drill carved into the last layers of rock above their underground purgatory.
Outside the mine, relatives staying in the tents and motor homes known as "Camp Hope" spent a restless night waiting to hear the siren blast that would announce the drill's success.
The "Plan B" drill was poised to win a three-way race against two other drills to carve a hole wide enough for an escape capsule to pull the miners out one by one.
Officials said that the "Plan B" drill was nearing the miners at a point 2,047 feet below the surface.
Mining Minister Laurence Golborne estimated the drill would break through at some point on Saturday.