Miners survived on instant coffee while trapped underground for nine days

SEOUL — Two South Korean miners were rescued Friday from a collapsed zinc mine after spending nine days trapped below the surface.

The rescued men, aged 62 and 56, were trapped almost 650 feet underground after a portion of the mine collapsed on Oct. 26, according to the BBC.

Reuters reported that the pair stayed warm for nearly two weeks by building a tent from plastic and consuming sticks of instant coffee. The miners also drank water falling from the ceiling.

They were located on Thursday when rescuers inserted a camera into a drilled hole. The BBC reported that the two were found at an intersection where multiple mine shafts meet.

According to The Associated Press, Bang Jong-hyo, a doctor who treated the miners, said both men were in good condition though they initially said they were suffering hypothermia and muscle pains.

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