Peru miners could be rescued Tuesday

Nine miners trapped underground for several days in Peru could be freed sometime Tuesday, a top official announced, saying the government hoped to have "good news" from the disaster scene before the end of the day. "Today will be key -- they (rescuers) are only three meters away," from the trapped mine workers, said government minister Ana Jara, speaking to reporters at the scene of the Cabeza de Negro mine, 325 kilometers (200 miles) south of Lima. President Ollanta Humala was due to arrive Tuesday to the scene of the mishap, where the workers remained trapped five days after a mine shaft cave-in. Workers specializing in reinforcing tunnels arrived Monday to shore up shafts at the collapsed copper mine. Rescue officials here said they were able to communicate overnight with the miners buried some 250 meters (820 feet) below ground, providing hope of a happy outcome to the ordeal. The mine workers, aged 22 to 59 and including a father and son, were not injured and remain together. Trapped since Thursday, they were being supplied with oxygen, water and soup through a metal tube. The rescue effort was being aided by 20 specialists from private mining companies.