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位于智利北部阿塔卡馬沙漠的圣何塞銅礦8月5日發生塌方，33名井下作業人員被困在地面以下近700米（2300英尺）處，救援難度極大。救援人員必須用特殊的鉆機穿透深達688米的堅硬巖層，開鑿一個新井直達礦工們被困的空間，才能救出他們。目前這種鉆機已運抵出事的礦井，而打出能夠救人的新井則可能要4個月，礦工們大約能在圣誕節前獲救。智利衛生部長表示，政府已將這一信息告知受困礦工。同時，考慮到救援工具所占空間和救援通道的直徑大小，智利政府要求受困礦工在井下“多活動”，避免長胖，以免因肥胖無法穿過救援通道。在等待救援期間，智利政府還向美國宇航局求助，為礦工們提供太空口糧，以便讓他們能健康地活下去。另外，由于礦坑狹窄、封閉的空間跟太空站差不多，所以他們還邀請太空心理專家為礦工提供心理輔導，幫助他們調整心態。
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The 33 miners trapped underground in Chile?are estimated to have already lost up to 22lbs after surviving 17 days. |
The 33 miners trapped underground in Chile have been told to maintain exercise regimes to ensure they are slim enough to fit through a rescue hole.
The men, estimated to have already lost up to 22lbs after surviving 17 days with only a mouthful or two of tuna, a biscuit and half a glass of milk every 48 hours, have been warned not to put on too much weight through lack of exercise.
A tape measure has been sent down to record their waistlines after Jaime Ma?alich, the Minister of Health, said it was essential they remained slim enough to fit through the 26 inch borehole that will eventually take them up to the surface.
In an attempt to keep them fit and sane, they have been given daily tasks such as digging a latrine, while they will also be delivered playing cards, dominoes, pens and paper and music to relieve the boredom.
Jose Hernandez, a NASA astronaut, said the space agency, with its long research on aiding astronauts isolated in space, could help the Chileans understand how to provide "psychological support for those trapped".
He also said the Americans could help design "an exercise protocol to prevent muscle atrophy".
NASA said it would be provide "support as requested".
The men, trapped 2,300ft underground in the San Jose gold and copper mine, will also be sent a video camera so they can record messages for their families above ground.
On Wednesday, the men were finally told they could be stuck in their collapsed mine for months before being rescued.
The men had not been told until now that it could take until Christmas to drill a shaft wide enough to bring them up into daylight for fear of the damage it could do to their morale.
Mr Ma?alich confirmed that they were now told.
"We were able to tell them ... they would not be rescued before the Fiestas Patrias (Chile's September 18 Independence Day celebrations), and that we hoped to get them out before Christmas," he said.
He said the men, trapped 2,300 feet below ground, took the information calmly, but he warned "a period of depression, anguish and severe malaise" could ensue.
In a conversation with the President of Chile late on Tuesday they said they were in good spirits but implored: “Get us out of this hell.”
President Sebastian Pi?era assured the workers that they would not be abandoned, telling them they were “going to keep doing everything humanly possible to get you back to the surface.”
As well as contacting NASA, the Chilean navy has been called in to share their experience of working in submarines, conditions said to be similar to that of the miners.
Engineers said they expected to be ready at the weekend to install a drill that will take between three to four months to create the rescue shaft.
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(Agencies)
（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）
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