Chile Mine Collapse: Family Members Tired, But Hopeful

SAN JOSE MINE, Chile - For two months Maria Segovia Rojo has lived at Camp Hope at the foot of the noisy mine. Her brother is one of the 33 men trapped 700 meters below ground since August 5.

"Why would we give up hope now?" Rojo said in Spanish while washing dishes. "We've had faith for so long ... we're so close."

Rojo cares for almost a dozen family members who live in small tents, and cook their meals off a fire burning in the middle of their small camp.

She says in the early days they slept in chairs, but slowly they have been able to build a makeshift home. When asked if she ever considered commuting, as many family members and relatives do, she paused and said she could never lay her head down to rest in her home knowing that her brother was trapped in the mine.  Being at home was not an option.

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When she heard about the mine collapse, Rojo never once thought they would be dead. "I always thought they were alive," she said. But as the days went by and no response, she became fearful until 17 days later when the miners were spotted alive. "Alegre" meaning "happy" is the way she described the news that all 33 men were still alive.

She remains happy today, despite the exhausting 60 day stint at the mine saying she was prepared to stay as long as it took as early estimates said rescue efforts could take as long as December.