Chilean Miners Rescue: All 33 Saved (October 2010)

Yes, all 33 miners were rescued.

The Event

• Mine: San José copper-gold mine, Atacama Desert, Chile.
• Collapse: August 5, 2010 — main ramp blocked 700m down.
• Trapped: 33 men, 69 days, ~600m depth, 30°C, limited food/water.
• Contact Established: August 22 (note on drill bit: "Estamos bien en el refugio los 33").
• Rescue Operation: International effort (NASA, Chilean Navy, Codelco, private firms). Three drill plans (A, B, C); Plan B (Schramm T130XD) succeeded.
• Capsule: Fénix 2 (NASA/Chilean Navy design) — 54 cm wide, 3.9m tall.
• Rescue Window: October 12–13, 2010 — all 33 winched to surface over ~22 hours. Global TV audience ~1 billion.

Aftermath

• All survived; physical/psychological recovery varied.
• Mine owner (San Esteban) fined; safety reforms enacted.
• Multiple films/docs: The 33 (2015), Buried Alive (2010).

As of 2024, all 33 remain alive. The rescue stands as a triumph of engineering, international cooperation, and human endurance.