六名矿工已经被困在矿井里长达十七个小时了。
Six men have been trapped in a mine for seventeen hours.
如果不能尽快把他们带到地面，他们可能会失去生命。
If they are not brought to the surface soon they may lose their lives.
然而，救援行动正在证明是困难的（即：正显得很困难）。
However, rescue operations are proving difficult.
如果使用炸药，震动将会导致矿井顶部坍塌。
If explosives are used, vibrations will cause the roof of the mine to collapse.
因此，救援人员正在矿井的北侧钻一个洞。
Rescue workers are therefore drilling a hole on the north side of the mine.
他们打算用一个特制的密封舱把那些人带上来。
They intend to bring the men up in a special capsule.
如果土壤下面没有这层坚硬的岩石，他们本可以在几个小时内完成这项工作。
If there had not been a hard layer of rock beneath the soil, they would have completed the job in a few hours.
而实际情况是，他们已经钻了16个小时，但仍然还有很长的路要走。
As it is, they have been drilling for 16 hours and they still have a long way to go.
与此同时，一个两小时前被放入矿井的麦克风，使那些人能够与最亲近的亲属保持联系。
Meanwhile, a microphone, which was lowered into the mine two hours ago, has enabled the men to keep in touch with their closest relatives.
虽然食物和饮用水快要耗尽了，那些人依然乐观，并且相信他们很快就能出来。
Though they are running out of food and drink, the men are cheerful and confident that they will get out soon.
他们被告知，救援工作正在顺利进行。
They have been told that rescue operations are progressing smoothly.
如果他们知道钻穿那坚硬的岩层有多困难，他们就会灰心丧气的。
If they knew how difficult it was to drill through the hard rock, they would lose heart.