国际英语新闻：Chilean president confirms trapped miners are alive after 17 days

"This came from the deepest of the mine and it is the message of our miners, who told us they are alive and together, and they are waiting to see the sunlight again and hug their families," Pinera said.

Pinera added that as soon as they know they are alive, they will send them water and glucose to stabilize their condition and then food, through plastic tubes called "doves" so they can continue to stay inside the mine.

Meanwhile, Mining Minister Laurence Golborne said that the aid for the miners "will be sent in some six hours."

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera (L) holds a note reading "we are fine in the shelter, the 33 of us" from the 33 miners trapped in a copper mine near Copiapo in north Chile, Aug. 22, 2010. Pinera said on Sunday that the 33 miners trapped since Aug. 5 in a copper mine are still alive.

Rescue works chief Andre Sougarret said that in coming hours they will send a camera inside the mine with video and audio reception so they can have permanent communication with the miners.

The rescuers are also waiting for a special drilling machine in order to enlarge the well from where the message was sent.

Since the miners were trapped inside the mine on Aug. 5, the rescuers had not been able to make contact with them, which had aroused worries among the authorities, as the shelter inside the mine only had water and food for some three days.

The miners have been trapped since Aug. 5 in a collapse at the San Jose gold and silver mine in northern Chile, 800 kilometers north to Santiago.