Thirty-three miners trapped 700 meters underground for 69 days were rescued in a globally watched multinational operation in Chile's Atacama Desert.
Key Facts
- Miners trapped
- 33
- Depth underground
- 700 meters
- Days trapped
- 69 days
- Rescue date
- 13 October 2010
- Total rescue cost
- 20 million USD
- Live stream viewers
- 5.3 million
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The San Esteban Mining Company had repeatedly ignored safety warnings from Chilean regulators, accumulated numerous violations, and failed to maintain required safety infrastructure such as escape ladders. The San José mine had a known history of geological instability, and years of neglect created conditions that made a collapse likely.
On 5 August 2010, a cave-in at the San José copper–gold mine trapped 33 miners approximately 700 meters underground and 5 kilometers from the entrance. The men retreated to an emergency refuge, and after 17 days a note attached to a drill bit confirmed all 33 were alive. A multinational rescue effort involving NASA and multiple drilling teams ultimately extracted each miner one by one via a specially built capsule on 13 October 2010.
All 33 miners were brought to the surface in good medical condition. The rescue cost approximately US$20 million, partially covered by private donations. Despite three years of lawsuits and investigations, no criminal charges were filed against the mine owners. The event drew worldwide attention to mine safety standards and the accountability of private mining operators in Chile.