To the sound of cheering, a second heavy drilling machine arrived to join the effort to reach 33 miners trapped almost a kilometre underground in Chile.

The apparatus will widen a narrow shaft already being used to send supplies down to the trapped men. A much bigger drill is digging the rescue shaft.

The head of the rescue operation told reporters it would start work on Sunday. He said plans to dig a third rescue tunnel are also being discussed.

The 33 men have now been trapped underground for a month, but seem in buoyant mood. They are passing the time by watching the football – one of them was a top flight player for Chile before he retired and became a miner.

For the families at the surface, the wait goes on.
A Chilean cardinal held a mass at the mine head and sent rosaries blessed by the Pope down to the men.

For them, just as much as the men trapped underground, the wait goes on.

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