The long, underground ordeal of the thirty-three trapped Chilean miners looks likely to be over on Wednesday. The mining minister has said that the construction of the evacuation tunnel should be complete within a few days.

There were joyous scenes across the country at the news that the mens’ plight, which began on 5 August, could be finished soon.

The tunnel has been drilled, but part of it must be strengthened and made safe before they can finally be brought back above ground.

If it does happen on Wednesday, it should prove to be a day of great celebrations for those involved, and for the many people over the world who have followed this story since it started several months ago.