Chile miners could be rescued tonight

Rescue workers staged a successful dry run yesterday and will start bringing miners to the surface at midnight.

Chileans are holding their breath in anticipation today as it may only be a matter of hours before the first of 33 men trapped in a San Jose mine since Aug. 6 reaches the surface. Yesterday workers successfully lowered a rescue capsule that will carry the men to safety nearly the entire distance to their shelter 622 metres below ground, and will begin final rescue attempts at midnight tonight. The first step will be to lower rescue workers down to the shelter to help with the operation. Each round trip of the capsule will take about an hour, and miners will be brought to the surface one at a time. The healthiest of the men will go first, followed by the weak and the ill.