Miners' families fly flags at 'Camp Hope'

September 02, 2010

A small forest of national flags have been placed at the entrance of the Chilean mine, now dubbed 'Camp Hope', where 33 miners have been trapped for more than three weeks.

The families and colleagues of the workers – who are facing at least another three months underground – have slowly been adding to the display as optimism has grown that the men will eventually be safely rescued.

The men themselves have been sent a national flag through a 6-inch borehole that has enabled them to receive essential provisions and entertainment to help them cope with their ordeal.

The men first became trapped on 5 August following a rock fall in the main mineshaft. Efforts to locate them proved successful on 22 August, and work is now well underway to drill a shaft big enough to hoist them out of their imprisonment.

The flags reflect the growing public pride in Chile that the successful location and rescue bid are creating. President Sebastián Piñera's approval rating has jumped 10 points to 56 per cent since the drama began, due to his concerted involvement with the rescue and his position that he will spare no cost to save the lives of his countrymen.