[00:00.49]Six men have been trapped in a mine for seventeen hours.
[00:05.85]If they are not brought to the surface soon they may lose their lives.
[00:10.85]However, rescue operations are proving difficult.
[00:15.17]If explosives are used, vibrations will cause the roof of the mine to collapse.
[00:22.08]Rescue workers are therefore drilling a hole on the north side of the mine.
[00:28.92]They intend to bring the men up in a special capsule.
[00:33.73]If there had not been a hard layer of rock beneath the soil,
[00:38.25]they would have completed the job in a few hours.
[00:42.33]As it is, they have been drilling for sixteen hours and they still have a long way to go.
[00:49.82]Meanwhile, a microphone, which was lowered into the mine two hours ago,
[00:55.94]has enabled the men to keep in touch with their closest relatives.
[01:00.34]Though they are running out of food and drink,
[01:03.59]the men are cheerful and confident that they will get out soon.
[01:08.35]They have been told that rescue operations are progressing smoothly.
[01:13.08]If they knew how difficult it was to drill through the hard rock, they would lose heart.