Six men have been trapped in a mine for seventeen hours.六名男子已在矿井中被困了十七个小时。
If they are not brought to the surface soon they may lose their lives.如果他们不能尽快被救上来，他们可能会丧命。
However, rescue operations are proving difficult.然而，救援工作却非常困难。
If explosives are used, vibrations will cause the roof of the mine to collapse.如果使用了炸药，震动会导致矿井的屋顶坍塌。
Rescue workers are therefore drilling a hole on the north side of the mine.因此，救援人员正在矿井的北侧钻孔。
They intend to bring the men up in a special capsule.他们打算用一个特制的救生舱把这些矿工救上来。
If there had not been a hard layer of rock beneath the soil, they would have completed the job in a few hours.如果土壤下面没有坚硬的岩层的话……他们本可以在几个小时内完成这项工作。
As it is, they have been drilling for 16 hours and they still have a long way to go.到目前为止，他们已经连续钻探了16个小时，但距离完成工作还有很长的路要走。
Meanwhile, a microphone, which was lowered into the mine two hours ago, has enabled the men to keep in touch with their closest relatives.与此同时，两小时前被放入矿井中的那个麦克风……这让这些矿工能够与他们最亲近的家人保持联系。
Though they are running out of food and drink, the men are cheerful and confident that they will get out soon.尽管他们的食物和饮用水即将耗尽，这些矿工依然很乐观，相信自己很快就能获救。
They have been told that rescue operations are progressing smoothly.他们被告知救援行动正在顺利推进。
If they knew how difficult it was to drill through the hard rock, they would lose heart.如果他们知道在坚硬的岩石中钻孔有多么困难，他们恐怕会失去信心。