Copiapo, AgencyThe preparation of a "Plan B" whereby authorities here intend to reduce the time needed to rescue the 33 men trapped in a northern Chilean mine since Aug. 5 moved forward on Thursday with the establishment of a new platform where a second drill will be mounted.
The aim is to drill another conduit down to the mine gallery taking advantage of another type of drill than that being used already, a task that could take about two months, experts say.
The Chilean government, however, says that the rescue in all likelihood will take three or four months.
To get the alternate plan under way, a Schramm T-130 drill that can drill a hole about 75 centimeters (about 2.5 feet) in diameter, can move downward at about 20 meters (65 feet) per day and has a range of at least 700 meters (2,275 feet) is needed.
The rescue teams hope that the machine, which is currently in Antofagasta, will arrive on Friday at the San Jose mine near Copiapo.
Andre Sougarret, the expert in charge of the rescue operations, said that authorities are evaluating a third alternative using a drill that could be provided by the state oil company ENAP.
"We're (looking at) the possibility of using this alternative. We still don't have a decision and we're hoping, when we have the technical feasibility, to put this second ... drill in place," he told reporters.
Meanwhile, the final details of Plan B are being refined and rescue authorities are presently examining the feasibility of the third alternative. On Thursday, drilling resumed with the Strata-950 machine after on Wednesday it was suspended for two hours when a geological fault was encountered.
The drilling has advanced 41 meters (133 feet), but rescue workers stopped their work briefly to coat the conduit's walls with cement to prevent water leaks into the tube.
Far below, the 33 trapped miners on Wednesday received their first hot food from the surface. Authorities said that starting right away they would begin supplying the men with "normal food with a protein supplement."
Health Minister Jaime Mañalich said that the state of health of all 33 miners is "very good."
"Healthy in body, firm in spirit, and they've given us a tremendous lesson in what we're capable of," he told CNN Chile.
Mañalich said he was confident that on Sept. 18, when Chile commemorates the bicentennial of its independence, they would be able to send the miners pieces of good Chilean pie and also a little red wine so that they can have a toast.
Santiago Archbishop Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz will visit the mine on Thursday where he will speak by telephone with the trapped workers and will celebrate a Mass for their relatives.
He also plans to deliver to the miners a rosary blessed by Pope Benedict XVI.
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