Miners' rescue: Questions still unanswered

The owners of the copper and gold mine still have to explain why it was allowed to operate at all.

Attention will also focus in coming days on the rescued miners themselves. Their emotional scars must be tended - and it remains to be seen how many will want to return the job that nearly killed them.

President Sebastian Piera seemed unequivocal about the fate of the San Jos mine.

"This mine will definitely never open again," he said.

He also said the conditions that allowed the accident "will not go unpunished. Those who are responsible will have to assume their responsibility."

Mr Piera said the rescue would end up costing "somewhere between $10 million and 20m (6.3m and 12.6m]", a third of it covered by private donations, and the rest coming from state-owned Codelco - the country's largest company - and the government itself.

The accident brought the 125-year-old San Jos mine's safety record into focus and put Chile's top industry under close scrutiny.

Many believe the collapse occurred because the mine was overworked and violated safety rules.

The families of 27 of the 33 rescued miners have sued its owners for negligence and compensatory damages.

Also suing the San Esteban company is Gino Cortez, a 40-year-old miner who lost his left leg from the knee down a month before the accident, as he was leaving the mine after his shift and a rock fell on him.

He says he was hurt because the mine was short of protective screens.

Mr Piera said he would soon be proposing better protection for workers.