A rescue drill Saturday reached 33 miners trapped since August after a mine collapse in Chile, reported family members citing drilling experts.
They said the drill, a Schramm T-130, had broken through to the workshop room to which the miners have access at a depth of 624 metres, dpa reported.
Sirens wailed to announce the breakthrough, immediately followed by shouts of joy among the relatives of the miners waiting at the "Esperanza" (hope) camp at the site.
"Chi, Chi, Chi, Le, Le, Le" - a football stadium chant - could be heard as the relatives hugged each other at the news.
Further details were not immediately clear, but the development became the next major step in what is to be the painstakingly planned effort to recover the miners trapped below ground since August 5.
Late Friday, rescue chief Andre Sougarret did not rule out explosives to enlarge the 630-metre shaft's bottom end to make space for a rescue capsule designed to bring the miners up.
Officials said after the breakthrough to the miners, it would then take another three to eight days before the rescue mission could start, depending on whether the shaft needs to be stabilized.