Nearly three weeks after a collapse inside the main access tunnel of a mine in Chile trapped 33 miners inside, all are reportedly alive, and recently began receiving emergency supplies through a bore hole. But rescue workers estimate it could be four months before this amazing story of survival plays out, when a two-foot hole will be drilled in the rock to retrieve the miners.
Here's what's known about the event at the San Jose gold and copper mine, and what's ahead:
What caused the collapse?
It's not yet clear. Earlier this week, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said the cause of the roof collapse, about 1,100 feet (350 meters) below the surface, is being investigated. The mine is owned by the Compania Minera San Esteban Primera, which along with the National Mining and Geology Service, has come under criticism since the accident. In 2007, an explosion in the San Jose mine is reported to have killed several workers. Prinera has said the mine should not have been reopened without an escape route, according to media reports.
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