Number of miners trapped: 33
Ages of trapped miners: 19-63 years
About the miners: Most of the trapped miners are aged between 30 and 50 years of age. Several have hypertension or high blood pressure. The vast majority are married and have children. One was a former player of the Chilean first division football team, Cobresal. Another had been a victim of Chile's earthquake, and had moved to the region just two months ago.
Depth at which the miners are trapped: 620 metres, or 2,000 feet. To put it in context, the depth at which they are trapped is nearly twice the height of New York's Empire State Building.
Depth at which the drilling operation currently stands: 123 metres, or 400 feet
Date of mine collapse: August 5, 2010
Original expected rescue date: November 2010
Actual date of rescue: October 13, 2010
Rescue effort: Three bore holes have been drilled. The first is for supplies, the second for communications, and the last is to guarantee air supply to the trapped miners.
Original rations: The men made rations intended for two days last more than two weeks. Every second day they would have two spoonfuls of tuna, a sip of milk and a bite each of a cracker and a peach. They managed to extract water from rocks. Rescuers say when the miners were found there was only enough oxygen left in the room for another 24 hours.
The emergency shelter: The room the miners are trapped in is big enough to comfortably house them all. They are able to walk through tunnels below the collapse. The room is hot, with temperatures reaching about 34 degrees Celsius.
Equipment sent down already: Capsules containing radios, food, LED lamps, water and oxygen were sent down to the miners shortly after they were discovered. Fibre-optic cables to enable audio-visual link-up with loved ones were also sent. The miners received some 800 letters from friends and family within three weeks of the mine collapse.
