Trapped Chilean Miners Emerge From Two-Month Ordeal

After 10 weeks underground, miners surface. One miner has pneumonia.

ByABC News
October 13, 2010, 1:13 AM

SAN JOSE MINE, Chile, Oct. 13, 2010— -- Most of theChilean miners have ascended to freedom from the underground chamber where they've been entombed for 10 weeks, the longest time ever for a successful rescue.

For full coverage of the miners' rescue, stay tuned to ABC News. Watch "World News" at 6:30 p.m. ET, then "A Special Edition of 20/20: Miracle at the Mine," anchored by Diane Sawyer at 10 p.m. ET, and a special edition of "Nightline" at 11:35 p.m. ET.

The painstaking extractions continued overnight and throughout today. The well-oiled operation picked up speed throughout the day, with miners surfacing from the 28-inch-diameter hole nearly every half hour.

After being examined at a triage unit on site, miners were transported via helicopter to a hospital in the nearby city of Copiapo.

At the hospital this afternoon, Chilean Health Minister Jaime Manalich said one of the miners had pneumonia and two others will need minor dental surgery. Some miners also had eye ulcers.

Manalich expected all of the miners would be at the hospital by 4 a.m. local time Thursday and most would get to go home no later than Monday.

For a video slideshow of the dramatic rescue efforts, click here. The videos show all mine workers at the moment they leave the capsule and embrace their loved ones.

This afternoon, President Obama spoke about the miners in the White House Rose Garden, noting the "joy of people everywhere" at the news of each successful rescue.

"This rescue is a tribute not only to the determination of the rescue workers and the Chilean government but also of the Chilean people, who have inspired the world," Obama said. "I want to express the hopes of the American people that the miners who are still trapped underground will be returned home safely as soon as possible."