Chilean authorities believe the arduous rescue of 33 miners trapped 700 metres below ground could start much sooner than previously expected, a newspaper reported.
"In 15 days, we'll have all the preparations made to be able to start any time with the rescue," the newspaper El Mercurio quoted Christian Barra, an official at the mine from the Chilean Interior Ministry, as saying Tuesday, DPA reported.
Previous official estimates for the drilling of a rescue shaft to the miners, trapped since a partial collapse of the mine on August 5, were for November at the earliest.
The boring equipment now drilling the necessary shaft is making faster progress than anticipated, the newspaper reported.