drill passes halfway point in chile mine rescue bid - small projector

Chile Copiapo (CNN)--
On Tuesday, at the construction site where the rig reached 33 Chilean miners, the harsh air horn sounded and crossed the midpoint of the trapped.
Andre Sougarret, government rescue coordinator, said the celebration broke out as planned B exercises reached 330 m.
Drill bit is expanding 623meter (2,040-foot)
A hole has been drilled for miners with smaller diameter.
These people have been relying on supplies delivered to them from the ground through early drilling, each with a diameter of about 4 inch.
The initial drilling of the B plan rig arrived in September 17 and the current operation is intended to expand the hole so that one person can be carried out. Once a wide-
Enough holes have been dug to reach the miners, and rescuers will begin to prepare the hole, drop the lifeguard to the miners and pull it out one by one.
33 miners have been trapped since August 5.
The breakthrough was made after Plan B drilled more than 100 m in about 48 hours.
"This progress is one of the best we have," said Sougarret . ".
"This is due to better continuity of drilling.
Sougarret says this continuity is the result of a more stable rock that the rig has reached.
Earlier this week, officials said drilling holes in solid rocks with loose materials caused the drill to loosen.
A drill bit fell about 500 and hit the floor of the mine.
None of the trapped miners were injured.
Ahead of the breakthrough in Plan B, officials said on Tuesday that the Plan B will conduct drills. -
Mining Drill--
Has reached 508, Plan C--an oil drill --
The depth reached 110 m.
Rescue officials say all the personnel needed to rescue trapped miners will be in place by the end of next week. A specially-
On Saturday, the designed lifeguard arrived at the mining area and two more are expected to arrive soon.
Other specialized equipment, such as field hospitals, is also on the road, said Sougarret.
Miners watch news and movies on a small projector.
Many people also exercise with their coaches, who lead meetings through video conferencing systems.
The campaign will help these people get through these days and will also help several of them lose weight so they can put in rescue capsules more easily, officials said.
Authorities say they still believe the rescue operation will take place in November.
We have been talking about November.
"I stick to this date because we may have difficulties," said sugret.
"I insist on the date of the rescue on November.
"Later on Tuesday, the earthquake was felt near the mine. A 5. 0-
The Richter earthquake occurred near the town of La Higuera, about 270 kilometers south of the mine.
Rescue workers are ready for the possibility of an earthquake and the mine is in good condition, Sougarret said.
There were no immediate reports of damage from Tuesday's earthquake.