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Ranmaru Mori
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Families Of Trapped Chilean Miners To Sue
9:26pm Friday October 1, 2010
Alex Watts
The families of the trapped Chilean miners have launched a multi-million pound legal action against the country's government.
The miners have been trapped underground for nearly two months
An official confirmed the joint lawsuit had been filed as a major rescue operation continued to free the 33 workers. The miners' relatives have been holding a vigil outside the mine in the Atacama Desert after a rockfall blocked the exit shaft on August 5. They are angry that the mine was allowed to reopen a year after a fatal accident - even though safety standards had not been improved at the site.
"The suit is against the company that owns the mine, against the state workers who did not do their jobs and the Chilean state," local mayor Brunilda Gonzalez told Radio Cooperativa. She said the action was filed at the court in Copiapo, a town near the mine, some 500 miles north of the capital Santiago. "The courts will decide how to split up any compensation, who pays and who is responsible," she added.
After the collapse, the government froze the assets of San Esteban group, which operates the mine. The firm filed for bankruptcy earlier this month and since then the Chilean government has paid for the massive rescue operation costs. The miners are said to be in high spirits after progress in the drilling of the escape tunnels raised hopes they may be freed a month ahead of schedule.
The first rescue capsule has arrived at the site
But the rescuers have also urged caution, warning that unforeseen problems could still slow the work. One of the three drilling rigs is now nearly 1,000ft deep - almost halfway to its goal - and could break through to the miners in about five days, said Interior Ministry official Cristian Barra. The first rescue capsule has arrived at the site, but workers still need to attach it to a huge steel cable, which could be ready in 15 days.
