As the 33 Chilean miners react calmly to news it make take until Christmas before rescue, the head of the rescue team explains to Channel 4 News that water nearby the miners endangers the operation.
Andrés Sougarret, head of rescue team at Camp Hope, is preparing to dig a “chimney” 702 metres long to rescue the miners trapped 700 metres below the surface.
He told Channel 4 News the miners are being fed 1,000 calories and four litres of water a day – the lack of solids is to ensure that the men lose, rather than gain weight in order to squeeze through the rescue chimney.
However, if the chimney is not a success, alternative plans could prove hazardous. Mr Sougarret said: “There are three other holes focusing away from where they are with the objective of going across when we reach their depth. Nearby there is water so it is dangerous to dig too close to them as it could be filled with water.”
The Chilean Health Minister Jaime Manalich said officials had delayed telling the men how long it could take to rescue them for fears of how it might affect their mental state.
He revealed that a second borehole – about the diameter of a drainpipe – had now reached the men, giving the rescue workers two channels through which to supply them with clean drinking water, fortified mineral water and specially collated rations designed to keep them properly nourished.
Psychological pressure
Within the group of 33 men trapped, leaders will have emerged very, very quickly, James Thompson, clinical psychologist and senior psychology lecturer at University College London, told Channel 4 News.
Within 20 or 30 minutes of an accident, certain people will take charge "because that's the ultimate test. Some people will freeze at the shock of what's happened, others will say let's get to safety, let's do this..." he said. The initial leaders of the group, are likely to still be in charge today - some three weeks since the men first became trapped.
With eight men said to be mentally distressed, concerns have risen about the group fracturing. Yet Mr Thompson told Channel 4 News this is unlikely. He said: "There's such a lot going on in trying to survive together that (the group fracturing) is less likely. If they were in an open space, like soldiers broken away from their regiment, then I could understand it - people trying to go their different ways.
"But there's no different way for them to go. And mostly the breakdown will be very strong anxiety in being incapable of coping, which others can be - shall we say - on-hand therapists to help them. So I would say cohesion would be mostly what you'd predict."
While the men are said to have reacted calmly to the news they may not see daylight until Christmas, Mr Thompson said this is simply because they are miners and they understand the situation well. He said: "They are miners, they know how far down they are - they apparently tried to get out through some ventilation shafts before. I think they understand what the real risks are. The minister commented that they took it pretty well - but then he added, but we mustn't imagine that will be the case in the long term."
It is essential that the men trust people above ground at Camp Hope, he said, and that rescue workers are honest with them over the progress of the operation.
The minister said the miners are also being sent anti-depressants, “we expect that after the initial euphoria of being found, we will likely see a period of depression and anguish,” he said. “It would be naive to think they can keep their spirits up like this.”
Health officials are also looking at ways to help the men deal with the psychological pressure of being trapped for so long, and being unable to be certain if and when they can get out.
Power lines and special lighting will be sent down so that artificial daylight can be created in the tunnel, which can be switched off to help the miners sleep at night.
There are plans to also send down clothes and games to help keep the men physically and mentally fit.
Mr Sougarret said the men have a doctor on call 24 hours a day, who speaks to each miner every day to discuss their health.
They are also kept busy with the routine of work, sorting the provisions they are sent and keeping their living space clean.
“They have a schedule which they do in shifts. Some will sleep while the others are working,” Mr Sougarret said.
Despite being stuck in a space the size of a one bedroom flat since 5 August, the miners are reported to be generally in good shape.
They have each lost around 10 kilogrammes, having initially survived on a diet of half a glass of milk and two mouthfuls of canned tuna every 48 hours.
The men have also been told to watch their weight. The rescue borehole which engineers hope will reach them within the next three months will only be some 100 centimetres wide.
The space the men are occupying is a corridor of 400 metres. Mr Sougarret said: “They have an area in which to eat – a dfiferent area in which to wash and bathe. They have toilets down there.”