"Waiting was like wandering in a labyrinth"
This simile could illustrate the torturous nature of waiting for the trapped miners and their families on the surface. The uncertainty and the absence of control are conveyed by likening the wait to being lost in a maze.
"Hunger gnawed at them like a beast"
This simile depicts the relentless, savage nature of the miners' hunger as their rations dwindled. It accentuates the harsh conditions they were forced to endure.
"Darkness like a Solid Wall"
This simile conveys the darkness's oppressive, almost physical nature in the collapsed mine. It helps readers understand the terrifying, disorienting environment in which the miners were trapped.
The mine is a tomb
This metaphor illustrates the deadly threat that the collapsed mine represented. It emphasizes the dire situation of the miners and the almost insurmountable odds they faced in their quest for survival.