Light at end of tunnel as Chile miner rescue nears

China Daily | Updated: 2010-10-12 07:59

In this still image taken from a video released by the government of Chile on Sunday, workers lower steel pipes to encase part of the escape shaft as efforts continue to free the 33 trapped miners at the San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile. A drilling rig punched through to the collapsed mine where the miners have been trapped since Aug 5. Government of Chile / Associated Press

COPIAPO, Chile - Chile's 33 trapped miners and their relatives were counting down the hours on Monday as rescuers worked to finish reinforcing an escape shaft to avoid a last minute disaster as their two month ordeal draws to an end.