Rescuers freed nine miners from a caved-in copper mine in southern Peru today, ending a seven day ordeal of survival deep underground.

The miners exited the Cabeza de Negro mine one by one starting at around 7 am local time, wrapped in blankets and wearing dark glasses to protect their eyes against the bright light of day, AFP reporters at the scene said.

One of the miners had difficulty walking, and was wearing an oxygen mask.

President Ollanta Humala and relatives of the miners greeted them as they emerged, and miners raised a Peruvian flag atop a rustic pole to celebrate the rescue.