Jubilation as miners lifted to safety

(Nathan VanderKlippe)

After 69 days, the deep Chilean tomb is giving up its captives. Remarkable scenes of rescue have now become commonplace at this isolated spot in the Chilean desert. Over the day, 25 men have emerged from the depths of the mine that has held them and eight co-workers hostage for more than two months. But even amid the cheering that continues to great each successful removal, the salvation of Mario Gomez stood out on a night — and now morning — filled with overwhelming emotion.

Mr. Gomez, at 63, was expected to be among the most fragile of the miners. He was expected to wear a full oxygen mask as he rose to the surface, as an added measure of protection for a man who is the oldest among the trapped and who suffers from silicosis disease.

Moments before he reached the surface, a rescue worker asked him: "Have you got the mask on?"

His answer, delivered before he had even come into view, before he had stepped from his rescue capsule into the waiting arms of his wife, before he fell to the ground in prayer, arms outstretched to the sky: "No."

Five minutes later, after he had once again embraced his wife and then hugged waiting politicians, he was helped onto a stretcher and finally outfitted with an oxygen mask.

Medical teams continue to every precaution with the men as they emerge. But after 69 days of being trapped, they appear to be in remarkably good condition — a fact that has delivered an even greater sense of relief to the sleep-starved families who have refused to rest until the last man surfaces. That could happen by Thursday, Chilean health minister Jaime Manalich said early Tuesday.

The rescue operation has proceeded nearly as smoothly as could be expected by the team of more than 1,000 that spent so long planning this moment. Crews have had to adjust the door to the capsule, and make other small changes along the way, but the miners have been evacuated almost exactly as planned.

Delirious celebration erupted across "Camp Hope," the encampment of waiting families and media, as the first miner rescued, Florencio Avalos, emerged.

Dozens of balloons floated into the night sky as Mr. Avalos reached the surface, amid raucous cheering, airhorns and joyous chanting. Grown men wiped tears from their eyes as Mr. Avalos emerged from the capsule, walked to his wife and son and met each with a long, extraordinarily emotional hug.

Mr. Avalos was the first to be successfully rescued in a daring operation that will last, officials expect, for up to two days, as crews work to raise the 33 men — and five rescuers — to the surface in what local media are calling "The Great Rescue."

The final moments brought an atmosphere of extraordinary tension to the Avalos family, as relatives bit nails and wiped away anxious tears.

Much work remains and many men are still trapped — but for this moment, joy has washed over the barren desert mine that has been the source of such immense uncertainty and anxious waiting in the past few months.

"We're happy because soon it will be our son that comes up," said Antonia Godoy, whose son, Richard Villarroel, is 28th in line to be rescued – a position that could take many hours to reach.

Still, she said, watching the first miner surface was a moment all families cheered.

"It's incredible. Even though it wasn't our son, it was a pleasure to see."

Speaking as workers prepared to lift a second miner, the Chilean President addressed the country.

"However strongly nature beats us, Chile always knows how to stand up and continue walking," said Mr. Pinera, who pledged to construct a memorial at the mine site.

"In the face of adversity, we're capable of great things."

A little under an hour later, so-called “Camp Hope” erupted in another round of cheering as Mario Supelveda emerged from the capsule. He came out beaming, the second to be rescued, and handed out rocks from the mine before running to a row of watching rescue workers, who he led in a loud national chant.

“I’m so happy!” Sepulveda yelled, grinning, punching his fist in the air and hugging everyone in sight.

Claudia Jiminez, the sister-in-law of trapped miner Omar Reygadas, couldn't suppress an “oooooh!” as Mr. Supelveda reached the surface.

Though the clock ticked toward 2 a.m., neither she nor anyone else had any intention of turning in.

“We're going to see all the rescues,” she said.

Miners' relatives were especially grateful to see the condition of the rescued men, who appeared hale and fit – anything but survivors of an agonizing wait in difficult conditions.