RESGATE MINEIRO: MISSÃO CUMPRIDA.
El Presidente Sebastián Piñera cerró el amplio despliegue de salvataje de los 33 mineros atrapados hace más de dos meses a 622 metros de profundidad en la mina San José, destacando que el accidente dejó una lección al Gobierno y anunció un nuevo trato con todos los trabajadores del país.
"Acabo de conversar con Luis Urzúa, y él me entregó el turno, yo quería decirle que fue un jefe de turno que nos hizo sentir orgullosos", indicó el Presidente.
El Presidente Piñera además agregó que "Chile hoy día esta más unido y más fuerte que nunca. Chile hoy día es un país más valorado y más respetado en el mundo entero".
El jefe de Estado realizó un balance del rescate. "Enfrentamos el rescate de nuestros 33 mineros unidos, yo quiero decir que lo hicimos a la chilena, y eso quiere decir que lo hicimos bien con unidad con fe, con esperanza y quiero agradecerles a tantos a los 33 mineros que nos dieron una lección de lealtad de compañerismo, de trabajo en equipo", indicó.
"Me emocioné, como estoy emocionado hoy día y como están emocionados todos y todas las chilenas, y decirles que me siento orgulloso de tener el privilegio y la responsabilidad de ser el Presidente de todos los chilenos", dijo Piñera tras el rescate del último minero.
Además, el Mandatario recalcó que los responsables de que haya ocurrido el accidente que dejó atrapados por 70 días a los mineros tendrán que responder.
"Lo dijimos el primer día. Esto no va quedar impune, los que tengan responsabilidad van a tener que asumir sus responsabilidades, pero también ha sido una gran lección para todos los chilenos y para nuestro gobierno: mejorar nuestros sistemas, nuestras actitudes, nuestros procedimientos para resguardar mejor la vida, la integridad y la dignidad de nuestros trabajadores y no solamente en la minería, en el campo, en la construcción, en el transporte, en la pesca", enfatizó el Jefe de Estado.
En esta línea, recalcó que "espero en muy pocos días más poder anunciar un nuevo trato con los trabajadores y las trabajadoras chilenos y chilenas".
Editor's note: CNN.com is streaming live from beginning to end the rescue attempts at a Chilean mine where 33 men were trapped since August 5. Also, watch live coverage on CNN TV. Click here for full coverage of the Chile mine disaster.
[Updated at 11:17 p.m. Wednesday ET, 12:17 a.m. Thursday Chile time] While communicating with people on the surface as he waits for the capsule in the miners' underground refuge, rescue worker Manuel Gonzalez - the last person in the mine - talks about how tough it must have been for the miners to be trapped for more than two months. "I've been away from home for a week, and I can't imagine what it'd be like to [be away] for 70 days," he said, according to a translation from Spanish to English.
[Updated at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday ET, 12:15 a.m. Thursday Chile time] Rescue worker Manuel Gonzalez, the last person in the miners' refuge, is speaking with people on the surface as he waits for the capsule that will take him home.
[Updated at 11:06 p.m. Wednesday ET, 12:06 a.m. Thursday Chile time] A fifth rescuer has been lifted to the surface, leaving just one rescuer - the last person still in the miners' refuge 23,000 feet underground - to be brought back up.
[Updated at 10:55 p.m. ET, 11:55 p.m. Chile time] People all around the rescue area were in a festive mood in the minutes after the last miner was lifted to the surface. At "Camp Hope" - the area near the rescue site where miners' relatives have been holding vigil for weeks - about 50 to 60 of government police officers were marching down the mine's access road, singing the national anthem, according to CNN's Sean O'Key. People who already were in the camp joined in the singing as the officers passed by.
[Updated at 10:44 p.m. ET, 11:44 p.m. Chile time] A fourth rescue worker has been lifted to the surface. Just two more rescuers remain in the miners' refuge about 23,000 feet below the surface. The last of the 33 trapped miners was taken to the surface nearly two hours ago.
[Updated at 10:23 p.m. ET, 11:23 p.m. Chile time] A third rescue worker is back on the surface. Three rescue workers yet to be lifted back up.
[Updated at 10:21 p.m. ET, 11:21 p.m. Chile time] We told you about the conversation that Luis Urzua, the last of the 33 miners to be rescued, had with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera shortly after Urzua was lifted to the surface. Here's video of part of that conversation, in which Urzua thanks Pinera and all of Chile and says he hopes this type of mining incident never happens again.
[Updated at 10:15 p.m. ET, 11:15 p.m. Chile time] A son of Luis Urzua, the last miner rescued, says that his father has been reborn:
[Updated at 10:10 p.m. ET, 11:10 p.m. Chile time] A third rescue worker is being lifted to the surface. Of the six rescuers who were lowered into the miners' refuge to facilitate the rescue operation's final phase since last night, only three remain underground.
[Updated at 10:01 p.m. ET, 11:01 p.m. Chile time] Here is video of the singing that happened at the rescue site shortly after the 33rd and final miner - shift foreman Luis Urzua - was lifted to the surface about an hour ago:
[Updated at 9:58 p.m. ET, 10:58 p.m. Chile time] CNN's Sean O'Key sends this report from “Camp Hope,” the area near the rescue site where miners’ relatives had held vigil during much of the miners’ 69-day isolation: Shortly after the last miner was rescued, balloons with the Chilean flag were released, and family members that have remained in “Camp Hope” swarmed the overlooking hill where tributes and flags had been planted, singing the national anthem.
People at 'Camp Hope' celebrate as the last miner is lifted to the surface.
[Updated at 9:53 p.m. ET, 10:53 p.m. Chile time] The second of six rescue workers who had been lowered to the miners' underground refuge during the rescue operation has been lifted to the surface. Chile's mining minister is congratulating the rescuer, and the capsule is going back down to the refuge to pick another one up.
[Updated at 9:42 p.m. ET, 10:42 p.m. Chile time] One of the six rescuers who were sent down to the miners' refuge over the last 24 hours already is back to the surface, and the rescue capsule has picked a second up. Four rescuers remain in the underground refuge.
[Updated at 9:33 p.m. ET, 10:33 p.m. Chile time] More from the speech of Chilean President Sebastian Pinera: He praised the miners' families, saying they had faith that moved mountains. He also heaped praise on the rescuers, saying they gave themselves completely to the task. He said the successful rescues were a true blessing from God.
He also noted that this event is one that has helped make this a remarkable year for Chile, which suffered a strong earthquake in February and is celebrating its bicentennial. "I think Chile is more unified and stronger than ever and more respected and valued in the world," he said, according to a translation from Spanish to English.
[Updated at 9:27 p.m. ET, 10:27 p.m. Chile time] Chilean President Sebastian Pinera is making a speech. Here is some of what he said, according to a translation from English to Spanish:
"I want to say we did it the Chilean way - this means that we did it right, with unity, faith, hope, and I would like to thank everybody."
He said the 33 miners showed loyalty and teamwork. And he said that he told Luis Urzua - the last of the 33 miners to be rescued, and the leader and shift foreman of the group - that he was a boss "that made us proud."
[Updated at 9:20 p.m. ET, 10:20 p.m. Chile time] Officials have wasted no time to start bringing up the six rescuers who were in the refuge. The capsule carrying one of the rescue workers is being lifted now.
After all the miners were taken to the surface, the six rescuers who still were in the underground refuge held up a sign translating to, 'Mission Accomplished Chile.'
[Updated at 9:16 p.m. ET, 10:16 p.m. Chile time] The six rescuers who were sent down to the miners’ refuge 23,000 feet below the surface to help the miners leave are holding up a sign that translates to "Mission Accomplished Chile," video coming from the refuge shows. Rescuers still need to pull those six up to the surface.
[Updated at 9:11 p.m. ET, 10:11 p.m. Chile time] Luis Urzua - the last of the 33 miners to be rescued - apparently is recounting to the president the first few hours of the collapse. Now they're sharing another hug and handshake, and the conversation - several minutes long - ends.
[Updated at 9:09 p.m. ET, 10:09 p.m. Chile time] Urzua and Chilean President Sebastian Pinera are having an extended conversation now as rescuers and others look on. Some still are hugging each other, others are talking on cell phones.
[Updated at 9:07 p.m. ET, 10:07 p.m. Chile time] Chile's mining minister also congratulated Urzua, the last of the 33 miners to be rescued. Like he said to the president, Urzua responded that he hoped this would never happen again.
[Updated at 9:05 p.m. ET, 10:05 p.m. Chile time] More on what the president told Urzua before the singing began: He congratulated him, saying Urzua fulfilled his duties, and that he was proud of all the miners. Urzua responded to the president's praise: "As I said before, I pray this will never happen again," he said, according to a translation from Spanish to English. "Thank you to all the rescuers and everyone who came here."
[Updated at 9:02 p.m. ET, 10:02 p.m. Chile time] Singing now from the rescue site, led by the president.
[Updated at 9 p.m. ET, 10 p.m. Chile time] Chilean President Sebastian Pinera praises Luis Urzua - the last miner to be rescued. “You have been a very good boss and leader of this group." Urzua was the shift supervisor and is credited with making decisions that saved the group in the first days after the collapse and kept the group together.
Luis Urzua, the last of the 33 miners to be rescued, emerges from the capsule about 22 hours after the rescue operation's final phase began.
[Updated at 8:58 p.m. ET, 9:58 p.m. Chile time] Luis Urzua - the last miner to be rescued - is out of the capsule. He's being embraced by all sorts of people, including a relative.
[Updated at 8:55 p.m. ET, 9:55 p.m. Chile time] The capsule carrying Luis Urzua - the 33rd and last miner to be rescued - is back on the surface. The 69-day effort to find and get the miners out of the collapsed mine is over.
[Updated at 8:54 p.m. ET, 9:54 p.m. Chile time] The capsule is about to emerge - the rescuers can shout to him. Asked how he is, Luis Urzua answered, "Good."
[Updated at 8:51 p.m. ET, 9:51 p.m. Chile time] Chilean President Sebastian Pinera and Chile's first lady are hugging rescuers as they wait for Luis Urzua - the last of the 33 miners to be rescued and the group's leader - to appear.
[Updated at 8:48 p.m. ET, 9:49 p.m. Chile time] On the surface, rescuers are singing and clapping as they wait for the capsule carrying Urzua to appear. Just a few minutes left.
[Updated at 8:47 p.m. ET, 9:47 p.m. Chile time] Urzua is on his way. We expect to see him come to the surface in about eight minutes. Meanwhile, the rescuers in the miners' refuge 23,000 feet below the surface are hugging each other. Their job is about done - and they'll be lifted out after Urzua.
[Updated at 8:46 p.m. ET, 9:46 p.m. Chile time] The capsule carrying Luis Urzua - the last of the 33 miners to be rescued - is now being lifted. The rescuers underground are cheering and clapping.
[Updated at 8:44 p.m. ET, 9:44 p.m. Chile time] Urzua is aboard the capsule, and he’s getting final instructions from the rescuers who are with him in the refuge.
[Updated at 8:43 p.m. ET, 9:43 p.m. Chile time] As shift foreman, Urzua assumed command and control of the underground world that he and 32 fellow miners lived in since the collapse. His instructions to his men in the hours after the collapse – among them, to ration the little food and liquid that they had in a small refuge – are credited with keeping the group alive during the 17 days it took for rescuers to locate them with a probe and start sending them supplies.
[Updated at 8:41 p.m. ET, 9:41 p.m. Chile time] The capsule is in the refuge 23,000 feet below the surface now, and Urzua is about to enter. Just minutes more for him now.
[Updated at 8:40 p.m. ET, 9:40 p.m. Chile time] Now we’re awaiting the rescue of the last miner remaining in the refuge - Luis Urzua, 54, the shift supervisor who held the 32 other men together.
[Updated at 8:37 p.m. ET, 9:37 p.m. Chile time] CNN's Karl Penhaul reports that the day before the mine collapse, Ticona - the 32nd rescued miner who appeared on the surface moments ago - and his wife had just settled on a name for his soon-to-be born daughter the day before the mine collapse. The baby was born 40 days after the collapse, and the couple changed the name to Esperanza (Hope).
Ariel Ticona greets his wife upon leaving the rescue capsule.
[Updated at 8:34 p.m. ET, 9:34 p.m. Chile time] Ticona, the 32nd rescued miner - after embracing his wife - showed everyone the phone that he says the miners used to first establish contact with rescuers on the ground.
Smiling and chewing gum, Ticona also embraced Chile's president and the first lady.
[Updated at 8:28 p.m. ET, 9:28 p.m. Chile time] The trip took only nine minutes. The capsule carrying the 32nd rescued miner, Ariel Ticona, 29, has come to the surface.
[Updated at 8:19 p.m. ET, 9:19 p.m. Chile time] The capsule carrying the 32nd miner, Ariel Ticona, 29, is on its way up.
On the 40th day of the miners' isolation, Ticona's wife gave birth to a baby girl, named Esperanza (Spanish for hope) - and he was able to witness the birth by video. Ticona has three children, but Esperanza's birth was the first he witnessed.
[Updated at 8:16 p.m. ET, 9:16 p.m. Chile time] The rescue capsule is back down in the miners' refuge, ready to take up the 32nd miner, Ariel Ticona.
Pedro Cortez's daughter waits anxiously for him.
[Updated at 7:59 p.m. ET, 8:59 p.m. Chile time] Like other young girls witnessing their father's homecoming, the daughter of Pedro Cortez starts crying before her father reaches the surface, making him the 31st rescued miner.
The young girl has brought balloons of the Chilean flag and that she distributes among the crowd. As her father takes her up in his arms, members of the crowd release them into the night sky.
Cortez, a 25-year-old acoustics expert, began working in the mine with childhood friend, Carlos Bugueno, who was released earlier today.
The day the mine collapsed was Raul Busto's first day inside.
[Updated at 7:36 p.m. ET, 8:36 p.m. Chile time] Raul Busto reaches the surface, becoming the 30th miner to be rescued.
Busto began working at the mine after his family escaped the aftermath of an earthquake in Talcahuano. He had only been at the mine for
two months and had never been inside until the day of the collapse, when he went down to repair a truck.
The 40-year-old hydraulics engineer was tasked with overseeing the water supply during his two months of captivity.
[Updated at 7:21 p.m. ET, 8:21 p.m. Chile time] Raul Busto's journey to the surface begins just like everyone else's before him – with photographs of him suiting up.
In fact, nearly every step of the 2,000-foot ascent is documented. A video camera in the room where the rescue capsule picks up the miners shows their activity before they leave. A camera rigged up to the hard hats worn by the miners captures their journey through the shaft. And once they step out of the shaft, the cameras are still rolling.
Read more about how cameras have made the world a bit smaller
Juan Carlos Aguilar was a shift supervisor in the mine.
[Updated at 7:13 p.m. ET, 8:13 p.m. Chile time] The last traces of daylight had fallen behind the mountains as the 29th miner stepped out of the rescue capsule.
Juan Carlos Aguilar, 49, served as a supervisor for one of three work shifts in the mine. A father of two, he has been mining for 19 years.
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