A Chilean rescue worker has been lowered into a mine shaft to help free 33 miners who have trapped more than half a kilometer underground for more than two months.
The worker descended Tuesday night in a narrow metal capsule, called Phoenix, that will be used to bring the workers back to the surface one by one. The rescue is expected to last up to two days.
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera was on site in Chile's Atacama desert to witness the rescue operation, which also is broadcast live by Chilean television.
The first worker to be brought to the surface will be 31-year-old Florencio Avalos, who acted as a cameraman underground, providing the grainy images of the miners seen all over the world.
The 33 miners - 32 Chileans and one Bolivian - have have been trapped for 68 days, since the partial collapse of the copper and gold mine.
U.S. President Barack Obama Tuesday offered his thoughts and prayers to the miners. He said Americans pray the miners will soon emerge safely.
Health Minister Jaime Manalich says the miners were calm and in good spirits in the final hours before the rescue operation began.
As the miners are brought to the surface, they will each wear a helmet, an oxygen mask and dark glasses to protect their eyes from natural light.
Officials say it will take 10 to 15 minutes for the rescue capsule to reach the surface on each trip, but will take longer for it to descend back down.
At least four rescue workers are expected to go into the mine throughout the process, in part to evaluate health conditions of the miners and to assist those who are weak or ill.
Once on the surface, the rescued miners will be flown to a nearby hospital for observation.
