15 days ago, there was a relatively small earthquake near Beaconsfield, Tasmania, which left 3 miners trapped in a gold mine. The situation looked grim after the body of
one of the miners was recovered. But after 5 days, there was elation as the other two were found,
still alive, buried one kilometer underground in a small cage. Australia's major commercial networks immediately sent their top news celebrities to the small mining town, assuming there would be a quick and easy rescue. In hindsight, they were perhaps a bit over enthusiastic. Accusations of a
media circus, and
chequebook journalism soon followed. After a couple of days of nothing happening, the media even started
turning on their own.
The story took an unexpectedly sad twist this weekend when one of Australia's most well known journalists
died at the site from an apparent heart attack. But tonight, after 15 days underground, it seems the rescuers are
finally breaking through the rock to
reach the unfortunate trapped miners.
posted by Diag
on May 8, 2006 -
19 comments
