The capsule reached the miners some 700 meters underground and the first miner is ready to enter the capsule in the shelter.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera (C, looking down) stays with workers to start the rescue operation at the San Jose mine, in Copiapo, Chile, October 12, 2010.The operation to lift out the 33 miners trapped for over two months in northern Chile is under way, and the first miner is expected to surface shortly.[Xinhua]

The operation to rescue the 33 miners trapped in San Jose mine in the north of Chile since Aug. 5 began late Tuesday, with a rescuer being lowered in a capsule down a rescue shaft to reach the trapped miners deep underground.

The first miner is expected to be lifted out to the ground one hour later.

Manuel Gonzalez, the first rescuer and a paramedic, was in the capsule to head down to the miners who have been trapped for over two months some 700 meters deep underground. The first miner will be lifted out to surface in the capsule.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera was on the scene witnessing the rescue. Pinera said there will be a moment of "tears of happiness."

Two tests had been made before the operation.

The first test was about lowering down the Phoenix Two Capsule 65 meters underground and the second will lower down the Capsule some 85 meters down.