Chilean Mining Minister Laurence Golborne said on Friday that October would be the new date to rescue the 33 miners trapped in a copper mine in the north of the country, due to the advances of the rescue works.

"This has allowed us to estimate that the rescue could be done in the second half of October," Golborne said at a press conference.

According to him, the advance of the rescue works "is a positive element."

The date expected to rescue the miners was originally set at the beginning of November.