BBC Learning English
Words in the News
17th September 2010
Good news for Chilean miners
Workers trying to reach the 33 trapped miners in Chile say they hope to rescue them by early
November. Initially, the government said it could take until Christmas, but engineers say their
work is going well. From Chile, Gideon Long reports.
The engineers are digging two escape tunnels for the men and plan to start on a third one
soon. Work on the second of the tunnels is going particularly well. René Aguilar, one of the
chief engineers at the site, said he expected the drill to reach the area where the miners are
sheltering this weekend.
Then, the engineers will haul the drill up to the surface and start digging again, to widen the
shaft until it's big enough to serve as an escape route. Aguilar said the team expected to
rescue the men in early November.
The news has been welcomed by relatives of the men, who have been celebrating the birth of
one of the miners' daughters. Baby Esperanza was born on Tuesday. Her father Ariel Ticona
is trapped below ground.
Video images of the birth were sent down a supply chute to the miners' refuge so that he
could watch them.
Gideon Long, BBC News, Chile
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2010
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Vocabulary and definitions
escape tunnels passages to help the miners to safety
drill machine used for making holes
sheltering staying in a safe place
haul& up lift up something heavy
shaft long narrow passage
serve as be used as
rescue bring to safety
trapped stuck, unable to escape
supply chute passage for sending essential items
refuge safe place
More on this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11322327
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2010/09/100917_witn_chile_update_page.shtml
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2010
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