Drilling preparations under way in Chile

Engineers are installing a big drill to rescue 33 miners trapped for 19 days deep in a Chilean mine, and will send down games to help them cope with a wait that could last until Christmas.

The rescue crews began sending hydration gel and medication through a narrow bore hole on Monday to keep the miners alive during the long rescue effort and set up an intercom.

To avoid hurting morale, officials have not yet told the miners how much longer they may be underground.

Engineers must now build a concrete platform and erect the drill, which will bore a shaft 2,300 feet straight down around 2 feet in diameter, and plan to use a pulley to lower a cage to evacuate the miners one at a time. They hope to start drilling the escape shaft by the weekend.

The government has contacted NASA for advice on how to keep the miners healthy with space mission-like rations and help them deal with the extended stay in a confined space. It has also turned to submarine experts in Chile's navy.