Santiago, Chile - Chile's government has granted the early retirement requested by nearly half of the 33 miners who survived more than two months trapped deep underground last year.
The 14 miners who have cited either physical or psychological reasons for needing to stop working will receive annuities that will pay them about $540 a month.
Chilean first lady Cecilia Morel presented them with the pension documents at a ceremony on Tuesday in the town of Copiapo near the mine site.
The miners survived 69 days at the bottom of the mine, 700 metres below the surface. - Sapa-AP