JULEN UPDATE: Final 24 hours of rescue mission as workers enter tunnel to reach the 2-year-old

By Euro Weekly News Media • Published: 24 Jan 2019 • 20:36

HARD WORK: Miners are digging are 4-metre tunnel by hand. Credit: Asociacion de Salvamento de las Minas and @NicoConsil23

RESCUERS building a tunnel to reach trapped toddler, Julen, say it will take around 24 hours to complete.

A source from the Junta de Andalucia said the work of hand digging a 4-metre long tunnel at 60-metres below ground level should be complete tomorrow.

The news comes after this morning’s works to complete an access platform allowed specialist minors to descend the 60-metre well specially constructed to reach the boy.

The connecting tunnel will be built, by hand, at a downward inclination towards the toddler, who is thought to have become trapped at around 72-metres deep in the 110-metre borehole.

A group of specialists will dig using pickaxes and pneumatic drills, whilst wearing oxygen masks and remaining in telephone contact with teams above ground.