Nine Peru miners rescued

Lima, April 12 (IANS) Nine miners who were trapped underground for seven days in Peru were rescued early Wednesday, authorities said.

President Ollanta Humala said "mission accomplished" as he greeted them after they emerged from the abandoned Cabeza de Negro mine around 7 a.m.

They had gone to the place to look for copper and gold but were trapped after an explosion blocked their exit last Thursday, Xinhua reported.

Wearing protective dark goggles, the miners surfaced into the daylight looking tired, dehydrated and stressed as they approached to shake hands with the rescue team.

They were suffering from intestinal infections, stress and vision problems.

The mine is located in Yauca del Rosario town, some 300 km from Lima.