Chilean trapped miners due out after 2 ½ months - BP took 5 months to close well

British Petroleum’s Deepwater Horizon oil rig, one mile underwater in the Gulf of Mexico, exploded on April 20, 2010. It was capped on July 15, but not permanently sealed until September 18. A period of 5 months.

The roof of Chile’s San Jose gold mine collapsed on August 5, 2010, trapping 33 miners 2,300 feet underground. Chilean officials expect to have all 33 miners rescued by October 20. A period of 2 ½ months.

Agreed, there is a difference in the environments of the two disasters—one underwater, one on land—but one would think that between the U.S. and Great Britain, the best technology in the world would be available here. The Chilean efforts also show the incompetence of U.S. officials in regulating mines in this country.

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