Chile rescue mission continues

More than a half of 33 miners trapped underground for more than two months in northern Chile have been pulled to the surface amid scenes of jubilation.



Florencio Avalos, the first to be released, was greeted by family and President Sebastian Pinera when he emerged sometime after 10 p.m. last night.



All the freed miners are being taken to a triage centre for health checks.



The oldest of the 33, the youngest and the only non-Chilean are among those rescued so far.



Meanwhile, Health Minister Jaime Manalich says if working conditions remain the same, the rescue should be completed in one-and-a-half days, half a day quicker than predicted.



The men have been trapped underground since August 5, when a rockfall caused a tunnel to collapse.