Chile mine rescue: In pictures

The rescue of 33 Chilean miners, trapped underground for more than two months, is well underway.

• Miner Florencio Avalos, the first of the group to be rescued, is embraced by Chilean President Sebastian Piera as his son Bairon (R) looks on Picture: Getty

• Mario Sepulveda (C) hugs his wife after being brought to the surface Picture: Getty

• Juan Illanes celebrates becoming the third man rescued from the mine shaft, after 10 weeks underground Picture: Getty

• Carlos Mamani is strechered away afer leaving the rescue capsule. The men are all being taken to hospital for medical check-ups. Picture: Getty

• Jimmy Sanchez is the fifth miner freed, after spending 69 days more than half a mile underground. Picture: Getty

• Osman Araya is embraced by a relative shortly after becoming the six miner to be freed. Picture: Getty

• Jose Ojeda emerges with the national flag of Chile. Picture: Getty

• The eighth miner to emerge from the custom-built capsule, Claudio Yanez is taken away from medical checks. Picture: Getty

• Now well into the morning, Mario Gomez, the eldest of the 33 miners, emerges. Picture: Getty

• Alex Vega waves to the media after emerging from the capsule. The rescue has attracted global attention and has been hailed by Chile's president as a 'miracle'. Picture: Getty

• Bolivia's President Evo Morales and Chile's President Sebastian Pinera look on as Jorge Galleguillos waves while emerging from the capsule at the San Jose Mine near Copiapo. Picture: Getty

• The 33 men have been trapped underground for 69 days, after a collapse at the San Jose mine. They have been sent supplies, and have been able to communicate with their families, throughout the ordeal. Picture: Getty

• Edison Pena hugs his wife after seeing her for the first time in over two months. Picture: Getty

• A rescue worker exhibits the capsule which will transport the miners half a mile to the surface

• Carlos Barrios is the thirteenth miner out of the shaft

• Victor Zamora is not a miner by trade. He had gone into the mine to fix a broken vehicle when he became stuck after the mine collapsed.

• Victor Segovia hugs a relative as he emerges from the mine

• Daniel Herrera is the fifteenth person to emerge from the mine. It is expected that all 33 men will be freed by Friday morning (British time).