“you and I may be mutually
encouraged by each other’s faith.”
Romans 1:12
Operación San Lorenzo
2010 Copiapó Mining Accident
Stage 2 – hole widened to 70cm
Stage 3 – hole lined to prevent collapse
Stage 4 – workers descend to miners
Stage 5 – miners rescued one by one
On Thursday 5th August 2010, 33 miners were trapped underground after a cave-in at the San José copper-gold mine near Copiapó in Northern Chile.
The men were trapped 2300 feet underground, and three miles from the entrance to the mine. They were trapped for 69 days, and during that time their deep religious faith helped them to survive. They had created their own shrine to allow them to pray during their time underground.
Initial contact with the miners was made after two weeks, but the rescue required drilling large boreholes to bring the men back to the surface in specially designed capsules and so was a lengthy process.
Three plans were implemented simultaneously, named Plan A, Plan B and Plan C, each drilling at different angles and using different machines to increase the likelihood of success. The first drill to reach the miners was the Schramm T-130 from Plan B.
The miners were to be rescued one at a time in a capsule designed by the Chilean Navy with help from NASA and others. The name given to the rescue capsule was “Fénix 2″ (or “Phoenix 2″).
The rescue attempt began on Tuesday 12 October 2010 and was named ‘Operación San Lorenzo’ after St Laurence, the Patron Saint of Miners. All 33 miners were rescued safely – truly a miracle!
The first miner to be rescued was Florencio Ávalos, and the last was Luis Urzúa who embraced Sebastián Piñera, President of Chile, and said:
“I’ve delivered to you this shift of workers, as we agreed I would”.
Piñera replied to him:
“I gladly receive your shift, because you completed your duty, leaving last like a good captain.”
Timeline of the Rescue
Did You Know?
With Laurie the Church Mouse
