In just a few hours, the first of the 33 trapped miners in the collapsed mine near Copiapo, Chile will be raised from the ground via the newly invented mechanisms and one of three drilled holes created to solve Chile’s latest crisis. The year 2010 has not been an easy one for Chileans with a major earthquake, a typhoon and now a mine collapse ending this year of tragedy. This last disaster, the mine collapse, met some positive outcomes as the trapped miners attached a note to one of the exploratory drills over 68 days ago, and news of the 33 survivors was announced to the Chilean people and quickly made headlines worldwide. It was expected that the rescue would take place in November, but with the government focused on the 33 and international attention and help, including technical help, coming to the miners, today has been slated as the time for the rescue attempt for the trapped 33.
Chile is often seen as the Switzerland of South America, relatively stable, calm, and safe, but in reality Chile has had a year of dramatic change with several accidents and natural disasters and even a Presidential election which brought Chile’s conservatives back into the political game with the elections of President Pinera. Sebastian Pinera did not leave this incident at the wayside, making himself and the government’s support for the trapped 33 well known throughout Chile and worldwide. His instincts in weaving himself into the narrative of the trapped 33 is likely going to define himself in the future, as today’s rescue of the miners will most likely become a day of remembrance and pride for the nation of Chile and the will to go beyond disasters to save their fellow Chilean’s, even when buried under a collapsed mine and after a year of brutal natural disasters.
Chile for some reason has had unique disasters and rescues occur in their history. Few people will forget the crash of one of Chile’s futbol teams in the Andes, made famous for the two men who crossed the mountains to get help after their plane crashed and stranded the passengers in the mountains. They had to result to cannibalism to survive, but eventually two of them made it through the mountains to find help. One of the survivors from the Andes crash came to Copiapo to give his faith and support to the trapped miners, being a symbol of how tragedy can also have some hope. For a nation which was traumatised by the years under Pinochet and has been locked into the period of the “disappeared”, the total support by all Chileans for the trapped 33 may become a turning point where the divisions in society can begin to rebuild relations and move into the future, while working constructively to honour the past. Right now Pinera has arrived in Copiapo and I am certain that the entire world will be watching Chile and the trapped 33 as they hopefully are raised from the mine. Recent information states that the rescue may take place earlier, around 4pm local time. They will raise one miner each hour, starting with the strongest first with oxygen, cameras and instruments to monitor their vital signs in and around the rescue capsule. Buena Suerte a todos en Chile!
