国际英语新闻：Chile mining minister says mine rescue Plan B proceeds well

SAN JOSE MINE, Chile, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The 33 miners trapped 700 meters underground in the northern Chilean Atacama desert will be rescued next Tuesday through a 624-meter tunnel to be completed soon, Chile's Mining Minister Laurence Golborne announced on Friday.

Golborne said at a press conference that there were only 40 meters to go before the tunnel can be completed, in accordance with the rescue Plan B.

Due to the drill's proximity to the trapped miners, from now on the drilling machine Schramm T-130 will slow down its perforating velocity, said the minister, adding that the work is expected to be done by Saturday.

He also said that rescuers will have to halt the machine for about 10 hours for a drill change.

The minister said that the other two rescue plans, A and C, are both lagging behind Plan B in drilling progress, so it's almost certain that rescuers will use the tunnel dug by Plan B to lift up the trapped miners in the so-called "capsules."

Meanwhile, sources with the rescue team, who asked not to be identified, told Xinhua on Friday that the tunnel for Plan B was already completed on Thursday night.

Families of the trapped miners stayed up the whole night around camp fires, singing and dancing, and praying for the safe return of their beloved ones.