Wives and mistresses of the 33 Chilean miners trapped in the San Jose mine are reportedly engaged in a tug of war over compensation announced by the government.

According to The Telegraph, at least five wives came face to face with mistresses whose existence was kept from them by their husbands, who have been trapped more than 2,300 feet below a cave since August 5 this year.

Government officials are considering asking the 33 trapped miners to name those they want to claim the benefits entitled to them in a bid to solve problems on the surface.

According to Red Cross workers, some of the miners have children from numerous women, all of whom are now claiming their right over the compensation. So far, the aid providers have come across five families, but believe that more such cases might pop up in the near future.

Some women turned up at the camp to discover that their partners already had a wife and children whom they knew nothing about, the paper reports.

One miner reportedly has four women fighting over him. All of them, including, a first wife he never divorced, his live-in partner, a mother of a child he had several years ago, and a woman who claims to be his current girlfriend gathered at the camp to claim their rights.

The team of psychologists charged with ensuring the mental welfare of the men below ground are attempting keep such developments from reaching the miners. (ANI)