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Waiting for help: People who have been trapped for extended periods

The Chilean miners continue to wait for help to arrive. Christmas may come and go before they are freed. But they are not the first to be trapped. Here are other instances where individuals have been forced to wait in confined quarters for a long period of time.

In February, fifteen terrified tourists were stranded in an elevator in the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The passengers were trapped for 45 minutes before being rescued. Sixty more visitors were left on the tower's observation deck with no explanation of what had happened.

In February, fifteen terrified tourists were stranded in an elevator in the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The passengers were trapped for 45 minutes before being rescued. Sixty more visitors were left on the tower's observation deck with no explanation of what had happened.

Kamran Jebreili-ASSOCIATED PRESS

The elevator failure occurred merely a month after the world's tallest building had opened, leading some to speculate as to whether the building and it's 25mph elevators would be closed to the public.

The elevator failure occurred merely a month after the world's tallest building had opened, leading some to speculate as to whether the building and it's 25mph elevators would be closed to the public.

Charles Crowell-Bloomberg

A coal miner shouts orders as he attempts to push a cart of supplies into the main shaft of the Wangjialing Coal Mine in Xiangning county in north China's Shanxi province in April. The flooded mine held hundreds of workers trapped underground for over a week.

A coal miner shouts orders as he attempts to push a cart of supplies into the main shaft of the Wangjialing Coal Mine in Xiangning county in north China's Shanxi province in April. The flooded mine held hundreds of workers trapped underground for over a week.

Ng Han Guan-ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rescuers and health workers stand near an ambulance at the Wangjialing mine. Rescuers pumped water into the mine in a failed effort to rescue 38 of the trapped miners after the miraculous rescue of 115 mine workers who had been trapped underground for more than a week.

Rescuers and health workers stand near an ambulance at the Wangjialing mine. Rescuers pumped water into the mine in a failed effort to rescue 38 of the trapped miners after the miraculous rescue of 115 mine workers who had been trapped underground for more than a week.

Ng Han Guan-ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rescued miners are carried to ambulances at the flooded Wangjialing Coal Mine. Some of the 115 rescued miners ate sawdust and strapped themselves to the shafts' walls with their belts to avoid drowning while they slept.

Rescued miners are carried to ambulances at the flooded Wangjialing Coal Mine. Some of the 115 rescued miners ate sawdust and strapped themselves to the shafts' walls with their belts to avoid drowning while they slept.

Yan Yan-ASSOCIATED PRESS

Television satellite trucks park near the Sago Coal Mine where 13 miners were trapped in Tallmansville, W.Va., Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2006. Twelve miners died in the explosion. A rescue worker later confessed to having given families false hope, telling them their loved ones were alive when only one miner had been rescued.

Television satellite trucks park near the Sago Coal Mine where 13 miners were trapped in Tallmansville, W.Va., Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2006. Twelve miners died in the explosion. A rescue worker later confessed to having given families false hope, telling them their loved ones were alive when only one miner had been rescued.

George Widman-ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rod Anderson, left, and Mike Light work on a drilling rig on a hillside in Tallmansville, W.Va., Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2006 to rescue workers trapped after an explosion in the Sago Mine. Twelve of the 13 trapped miners died in the blast. A letter from the remaining survivor, Randal McCloy Jr., outlined the series of events as he remembered them. According to McCloy's letter, the miners' reserve air packs failed.

Rod Anderson, left, and Mike Light work on a drilling rig on a hillside in Tallmansville, W.Va., Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2006 to rescue workers trapped after an explosion in the Sago Mine. Twelve of the 13 trapped miners died in the blast. A letter from the remaining survivor, Randal McCloy Jr., outlined the series of events as he remembered them. According to McCloy's letter, the miners' reserve air packs failed.

Gene J. Puskar-ASSOCIATED PRESS

This January 2006 photo shows the area where 12 Sago Mine workers barricaded themselves while awaiting rescue following the Jan. 2 explosion at the West Virginia mine. The remaining survivor Randal McCloy, Jr. wrote, "We were worried and afraid, but we began to accept our fate."

This January 2006 photo shows the area where 12 Sago Mine workers barricaded themselves while awaiting rescue following the Jan. 2 explosion at the West Virginia mine. The remaining survivor Randal McCloy, Jr. wrote, "We were worried and afraid, but we began to accept our fate."

Anonymous-ASSOCIATED PRESS

These undated family photos show the 12 West Virginia miners killed after an early morning explosion at the Sago Mine Jan. 2, 2006, in Tallmansville, W.Va. Helms, a fireboss, is believed to have died in the initial explosion. Eleven others slowly succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning as they lay for more than 40 hours awaiting rescue. Only Randal McCloy, Jr. (not shown), survived. They are: Thomas P. Anderson, 39, Rock Cave; Alva Martin Bennett, 51, Buckhannon; Jim Bennett, 61, Philippi; Jerry Groves, 56, Cleveland; George Hamner Jr., 54, Glady Fork; Terry Helms, 50, Newburg; Jesse L. Jones, 44, Pickens; David Lewis, 28, Philippi; Martin Toler, 51, Flatwoods; Fred Ware Jr., 58, Tallmansville; Jack Weaver, 51, Philippi; Marshall Winans, 50, Talbott.

These undated family photos show the 12 West Virginia miners killed after an early morning explosion at the Sago Mine Jan. 2, 2006, in Tallmansville, W.Va. Helms, a fireboss, is believed to have died in the initial explosion. Eleven others slowly succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning as they lay for more than 40 hours awaiting rescue. Only Randal McCloy, Jr. (not shown), survived. They are: Thomas P. Anderson, 39, Rock Cave; Alva Martin Bennett, 51, Buckhannon; Jim Bennett, 61, Philippi; Jerry Groves, 56, Cleveland; George Hamner Jr., 54, Glady Fork; Terry Helms, 50, Newburg; Jesse L. Jones, 44, Pickens; David Lewis, 28, Philippi; Martin Toler, 51, Flatwoods; Fred Ware Jr., 58, Tallmansville; Jack Weaver, 51, Philippi; Marshall Winans, 50, Talbott.

Anonymous-ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mine survivor Randal McCloy Jr. waves before entering his home Thursday, March 30, 2006 in Simpson, W.Va. McCloy, who had passed out in the tunnel from lack of oxygen, returned home from Mountainview Regional Rehabilitation Hospital in Morgantown, where he continued to recover.

Mine survivor Randal McCloy Jr. waves before entering his home Thursday, March 30, 2006 in Simpson, W.Va. McCloy, who had passed out in the tunnel from lack of oxygen, returned home from Mountainview Regional Rehabilitation Hospital in Morgantown, where he continued to recover.

Jeff Gentner-AP

Members of Capt. Robert Falcon Scott's first Antarctic expedition, which began in 1901. The expedition was a failure, and he and his crew were forced to return home. Scott was successful in his second attempt, but he was not the first to arrive at the South Pole, as he had hoped. On the return trip, Scott and his crew died of hunger and exposure. Their bodies were found within miles of a supplies depot.

Members of Capt. Robert Falcon Scott's first Antarctic expedition, which began in 1901. The expedition was a failure, and he and his crew were forced to return home. Scott was successful in his second attempt, but he was not the first to arrive at the South Pole, as he had hoped. On the return trip, Scott and his crew died of hunger and exposure. Their bodies were found within miles of a supplies depot.

SEE CAPTION BELOW

Colombia's former presidential candidate, Ingrid Betancourt, had been kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) on Feb. 23, 2002. Betancourt, three U.S. military contractors and 11 other hostages were rescued by the Colombian military from rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), on Wednesday, July 2, 2008.

Colombia's former presidential candidate, Ingrid Betancourt, had been kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) on Feb. 23, 2002. Betancourt, three U.S. military contractors and 11 other hostages were rescued by the Colombian military from rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), on Wednesday, July 2, 2008.

AP

Former hostage Ingrid Betancourt holds the hands of her daughter and son Lorenzo, right, after their arrival in Bogota on July 3, 2008. In a book, the American contractors said Betancourt was selfish, arrogant and out of control during their captivity.

Former hostage Ingrid Betancourt holds the hands of her daughter and son Lorenzo, right, after their arrival in Bogota on July 3, 2008. In a book, the American contractors said Betancourt was selfish, arrogant and out of control during their captivity.

Ricardo Mazalan-AP

Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov toasts with a cup of hot tea as he sits in an armchair after being taken out of the TM-20 landing unit which landed in northeast Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on March 22, 1995. Polyakov broke the endurance record of one year in space when he spent his 366th day in orbit on January 9. Polyakov practiced an intense exercise regimen, allowing him to walk immediately after landing, to the nearby armchair.

Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov toasts with a cup of hot tea as he sits in an armchair after being taken out of the TM-20 landing unit which landed in northeast Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on March 22, 1995. Polyakov broke the endurance record of one year in space when he spent his 366th day in orbit on January 9. Polyakov practiced an intense exercise regimen, allowing him to walk immediately after landing, to the nearby armchair.

Str-REUTERS

A Uruguayan rugby team was trapped in the Andes after their plane crashed in October 1972. The survivors, in order to stay alive, resorted to eating the bodies of the dead. Sixteen were rescued 72 days later after a pair of passengers trekked 12 days across the Andes to find help.

A Uruguayan rugby team was trapped in the Andes after their plane crashed in October 1972. The survivors, in order to stay alive, resorted to eating the bodies of the dead. Sixteen were rescued 72 days later after a pair of passengers trekked 12 days across the Andes to find help.

El Pais De Uruguay-coleccion caruso

This handout image released by Cambridge University shows Capt. Robert Falcon Scott with his crew during Scott's second attempt to travel to the South Pole. "We took risks, we knew we took them; things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint, but bow to the will of Providence, determined still to do our best to the last," he wrote before dying.

This handout image released by Cambridge University shows Capt. Robert Falcon Scott with his crew during Scott's second attempt to travel to the South Pole. "We took risks, we knew we took them; things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint, but bow to the will of Providence, determined still to do our best to the last," he wrote before dying.

Anonymous-ASSOCIATED PRESS

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