Friday, October 14th, 33 miners trapped 2,300 feet underground were brought back to the
surface successfully and with less trouble and delay than expected.
Once again, excellent technology plus a lot of faith and hard work has saved the day. The
trapped miners have finally been rescued and are now enjoying a lot of attention from the world
because of having survived their 69-day ordeal. They are not just miners now, but heroes.
Aside from a really big miracle, the trapped miners survived everything with the help of modern
technology. Families that made makeshift homes around the site were able to constantly
communicate with their trapped loved one via phone or an iPod. Food, medicine, water and
other needs for hygiene were coursed through “Paloma” a tube sent to them and available for
their needs 24 hours a day.
According to some doctors, it was important to help the miners think of things other than their
present condition, so they were pretty much allowed to do a lot of stuff. The miners gambled,
which made them think they were just whiling away the afternoon at some dark corner of the
casino, they exercised with a trainor to keep them fit, they listened to music through the iPod,
and, they even watched a soccer game via fiber optics.
Fiber optics were used due to the distance of the place were the miners were trapped. A
normal wire can only be used for distances of up to 300 ft. Fiber optics on the other hand,
deliver quality signals even for up to 10 kilometers or more, depending on their kind. Auza.net
uses fiber optics to connect from its source of internet using around 1 kilometer of fiber optic
wire.
After a rough and tough 69 days, they finally were hoisted up to their freedom. The miners lost
weight, but were healthier than expected. All of them wore protective sunglasses with iridium
lenses so that there eyes can slowly adjust to the blinding light. The suits they wore during the
rescue were fitted with devices that monitored their body’s vital signs. And the biggest help
from technology came from the earthmovers which dug their way to the miners and brought
them up to safety.
People say technology has its way of destroying mankind. It all depends really, on how we use
them. Technology plus wisdom and compassion is a lifesaver.