Copiapo, Chile (CNN) -- Officials working to free 33 trapped miners in northern Chile denied Thursday they are under political orders to rescue the men ahead of President Sebastian Pinera's planned mid-month trip to Europe.
"No decision about any part of the rescue operation has been linked to any political decision. The miners' health and technical decisions come first," Interior Minister official Cristian Barra said in a news conference at the San Jose gold and copper mine.
"The president's agenda is not connected to the timeline for rescue. There are no guarantees this will be before October 17," he added.
Pinera said earlier this week he believed the 33 miners would be rescued before October 15. He is due to depart on a government visit to Europe on October 17, government officials said.
In his last visit to the mine on September 19, Pinera pledged to return the day the miners were extracted and personally hug each one.
CNN
