Chile to probe copper mine collapse
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Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said Monday that investigation of the collapse of San Jose copper mine will continue to verify responsibilities.
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A truck loaded with a drill machinery arrives in Copiapo, 725 km north of Santiago, where miners are trapped in a deep underground copper and gold mine August 23, 2010. [Xinhua] |
![A truck loaded with a drill machinery arrives in Copiapo, 725 km north of Santiago, where miners are trapped in a deep underground copper and gold mine August 23, 2010. [Xinhua]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20100824/000cf1bdd03f0ddd83504a.jpg "A truck loaded with a drill machinery arrives in Copiapo, 725 km north of Santiago, where miners are trapped in a deep underground copper and gold mine August 23, 2010. [Xinhua]")
The 33 miners trapped in the mine in Atacama desert, north of Chile, finally made contact with the rescue teams on Sunday, 17 days after the collapse. All of them are still alive.
Chilean authorities made fresh attempts to help them on Monday. A plastic tube was planted some 700 meters deep to send food, especially hydration gels and medicines to the miners. However, due to the irregular terrain of the mountain, the rescue work is expected to last another three or four months.
Apparently the mine caretakers didn't take measures for the precaution of emergencies, local authorities said.
"We have said that regarding this, there will be no impunity and I want to stress that both penal and civil investigations have begun and we are going to identify the responsibilities and punish those responsible ones," Pinera said.
The president said the country needed to review its investigation and punishment system and establish a working accidents precaution scheme to guarantee a safe working environment.
He also announced the setup of a security commission to analyze and present principles changes in working security sector.
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