Against The Odds

In 2010, the San Jose copper mine in Chile suffers a catastrophic collapse, leaving 33 miners trapped over 2,000 feet underground. As they desperately search for a way out, a massive rescue effort begins on the surface. But with the trapped miners running out of food and succumbing to despair, it’s a race against the clock to reach them and get them out...

After exploring possible escape routes and finding them all blocked, the 33 miners must face the truth: They really are trapped, more than 2,000 feet underground. Now, they must stay disciplined and ration their emergency food and water supplies if they have any hope of survival. Meanwhile, on the surface, a rescue effort gets underway. Several drills begin working to tunnel down to the trapper miners...

Two weeks after the collapse of the San Jose mine in Chile, 33 trapped miners find themselves starving to death, doubting they’ll ever be rescued. Then, a glimmer of hope: Rescue workers drilling above finally reach the miners through a small borehole. It’s big enough to send down emergency supplies, but not big enough to pull the miners out. Now the question becomes: How much longer will the 33 men have to endure life 2,000 feet below the surface? Listen early and ad free with Wondery+...

After sixty-nine days trapped underground, finally the drilling operations team has created a bore hole large enough to extract the 33 miners. But this will be the first operation of its kind. Will the 2,200 foot tunnel and extraction pod maintain its integrity amidst dynamite blasts and continually crumbling stone? On the surface, thousands of bystanders wait to see if everyone of The 33 will reach the surface alive. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+...

When the 33 miners emerged to surface after 69 days in the depths of the San José mine, they set the Guinness World Record for the longest time spent trapped underground. For his book Deep Down Dark, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Héctor Tobar got to know all 33 men and many of their family members. Today, Héctor joins host Mike Corey to discuss his experience visiting mines in Chile, his time with the miners, and the aftermath of the rescue. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+...