Chile miners trapped half a mile underground until Christmas

A group of miners trapped underground in Chile will not be brought to the ground for months, possibly Christmas, rescue teams said today.

The 33 men sent a note to the surface saying they were alive after 17 days trapped deep in a copper and gold mine.

"Today all of Chile is crying with excitement and joy," President Sebastian Pinera said at the mine near the city of Copiapo after a drill broke through 2,250 feet, nealy half a mile, of rock to reach the miners' refuge.

The men quickly tied two notes to the end of a video camera probe that rescuers pulled to the surface, announcing in big red letters: "All 33 of us are fine in the shelter."

Above ground, a crowd that had begun to give up hope celebrated, with a barbecue for the miners' families, roving musicians, candles and Chilean flags.

Now a second shaft about 27 inches wide, big enough for the miners to be pulled up, must be drilled. Capsules containing food, water, and oxygen if necessary, will be sent down, as well as sound and video equipment so the miners can communicate with their families and rescuers.

The video camera showed some of the miners, stripped to the waist, waving happily. But they could not establish audio contact, Mr Pinera said. "I saw eight or nine of them. They got close to the camera and we could see their eyes, their joy," the president said.

One miner, Mario Gomez, wrote: "Even if we have to wait months to communicate, I want to tell everyone that I'm good and we'll surely come out OK. Patience and faith. God is great and the help of my God is going to make it possible to leave this mine alive."

Chile is the world's top copper producer and a leading gold producer, and has some of the world's most advanced mining operations.

But the company that owns the mine, San Esteban, and the National Mining and Geology Service have been criticised for allegedly failing to comply with safety regulations. In 2007, an explosion at the same mine killed three men.