National Geographic has presented the official trailer for the three-part documentary cycle 'Chilean Mine Rescue: Race Against Time,' which is dedicated to one of the most widely covered cases of miner rescue in history.
The series recreates the events of the 2010 disaster when 33 miners were trapped underground for 69 days. It features previously unpublished footage shot by the miners themselves.
The premiere of the cycle is scheduled for Monday, September 28, 2026. All three episodes will air consecutively at 20:30 CAT time zone on National Geographic (DStv 181 and StarTimes 220) across Africa. Additionally, the series will be available on the Disney+ platform in South Africa.
The documentary, created by the Emmy-winning company Blast Films, explores the collapse in the San José copper-gold mine in Chile in 2010, the subsequent international rescue operation, and the long-term impact of these events on the miners and their families.
The documentary project includes video recordings made by the miners using mobile phones, providing a direct insight into their 69-day ordeal. The series also features interviews with survivors, family members, and rescuers; some participants are speaking publicly for the first time outside of local Chilean media.
Among the participants is Jeff Kaufman, who worked as an ABC international correspondent and became the first foreign journalist on site, covering the rescue operation from Chile.
The cycle traces the miners' journey from the moment of the mine collapse through the organization that developed the underground tunnels, the engineering challenges of the rescue mission, and the public interest following their survival.
The catastrophic collapse in the San José mine occurred on August 5, 2010, when 33 miners were buried nearly half a mile beneath the Atacama Desert in Chile. For the first 17 days, it was believed the men had died. When rescuers finally made contact, the operation entered a new phase, as Chilean engineers and rescue teams, supported by drillers and specialists from around the world, worked to bring them to the surface.
The miners spent a total of 69 days underground while their families waited above, holding onto hope. On October 13, 2010, the rescue capsule brought the first miner to the surface, marking the beginning of the final stage of the operation. It is estimated that the rescue was watched by approximately one billion people, making it one of the largest television events in history.