Trapped Miners’ Families Stay Vigilant in Chile

COPIAPO, Chile | The makeshift tent city at the entrance to the San Jose gold and copper mine houses relatives of the 33 miners trapped by a cave-in nearly half a mile underground. For more than a month, they have been enduring frigid nights while they keep vigil for their loved ones.

NewsHour correspondent Tom Bearden, producer David Stephen, photographer Brian Gill, and editor Tim Smith have spent the last week in Chile’s Atacama Desert, reporting on the trapped miners. Watch their next report on Monday’s NewsHour, and in the meantime, view a slide show narrated by Bearden:

Tom Bearden reports on the trapped miners in Copiapo, Chile

Atacama Desert
Photo by Tim Bearden

Road to Copiapo
Photo by Tim Bearden

Amid the Rocks
Photo by Tim Bearden

Tent Town
Photo by Tim Bearden

Poster of Miner
Photo by Tim Bearden

Plastic Flaps
Photo by Tim Bearden

Pieces of Home
Photo by Tim Bearden

Making Due
Photo by Tim Bearden

Messages to Loved Ones
Photo by Tim Bearden

Fire Pit
Photo by Tim Bearden

Wood Delivery
Photo by Tim Bearden

Drill Rig
Photo by Tim Bearden

Cluster of Buildings
Photo by Tim Bearden

Escape Tunnel
Photo by Tim Bearden

Aladina Oliveres
Photo by Tom Bearden

Gold Mine
Photo by Tom Bearden

Independent Operation
Photo by Tom Bearden