November 21, 2024
In 2010, the world watched apprehensively as one of the most dramatic rescues in mining history took place: the rescue of 33 miners trapped in the San José mine in northern Chile. The accident became a symbol of human resilience and international cooperation, profoundly marking the mining sector and occupational safety.
On August 5, 2010, a cave-in at the San José copper and gold mine, located in the Atacama Desert near the city of Copiapó, buried 33 miners 700 meters underground. The mine, which has a history of safety problems, had been in poor condition for some time. The structure was unstable and workers had already reported risky situations.
The miners were trapped in an area known as a refuge, which, although designed for emergencies, offered little protection from the extreme conditions. With temperatures of around 35°C and a shortage of supplies, they only had enough food for two or three days: small portions of tuna, cookies and milk. Drinking water was limited and, at first, there was no way of communicating with the surface.
In the first few days after the accident, the rescue teams didn't know if the miners were still alive. With each passing day, the anguish of the families and rescue workers grew. However, the determination to save them never waned. Drilling equipment was used to try to locate the miners, and finally, on August 22, 17 days after the collapse, a drill reached the refuge.
When the probe was removed, there was a message of hope attached to it: "Estamos bien en el refugio, los 33" ("We are well in the refuge, the 33"). This phrase would become a symbol of survival and resilience. The miners were alive, but a complete rescue would be a complex and time-consuming operation.
Once it was confirmed that the miners were alive, a race against time began to bring them back to the surface. The rescue teams managed to send food, water and medicine through small perforated ducts, as well as communication equipment. This allowed the miners to keep in touch with their families and coordinate their needs with the rescue teams.
Three main plans were drawn up, using different types of drills, with the aim of opening a tunnel wide enough to rescue the miners. Plan B, which used the Schramm T130 drill, was the most promising. After weeks of drilling, the tunnel was finally completed.
The rescue was carried out using a special capsule called the Phoenix, designed to hoist the miners through the narrow tunnel. Just 53 cm in diameter, the capsule was used to bring each miner to the surface, one by one. The rescue began on October 13, 2010 and lasted around 22 hours.
The first miner to be rescued was Florencio Ávalos, and the last to leave the mine was Luis Urzúa, the team leader. All 33 miners were rescued, and the world followed the operation live, which was broadcast to millions of people. They had spent 69 days trapped underground, setting a record for survival in a mining accident.
The rescue was an impressive demonstration of international cooperation. Countries such as the United States, Canada and South Korea contributed technology and expertise. The lessons learned from the San José accident have raised a global discussion about safety at work in mines, highlighting the need for significant improvements in working conditions for miners around the world.
The miners underwent medical and psychological treatment after the rescue, and their stories of courage were widely celebrated. The event also inspired a series of film and literary adaptations, keeping the memory of the accident alive.
In 2015, the story of the miners was brought to the screen in the movie "The 33", starring Antonio Banderas as Mario Sepúlveda, one of the miners' leaders. Although the movie was a commercial success, it did not escape controversy and criticism.
The choice of an international cast, with actors such as Antonio Banderas, Frenchwoman Juliette Binoche and Brazilian Rodrigo Santoro, generated controversy. Many critics questioned the lack of Chilean actors in central roles, arguing that this compromised the cultural authenticity of the narrative. In addition, the fact that the film is mostly in English, but with the actors trying to adopt Spanish accents, was also criticized for seeming artificial and detracting from the immersion in the story.
However, despite these criticisms, Banderas' performance was widely praised, and the film managed to convey the drama and heroism of the rescue operation. The production highlighted the resistance of the miners and the extraordinary efforts of their families and the rescue teams.
Despite its success, many Chileans were angry with the film because some of the victims of the accident claimed that the studio responsible for the film made them sign lifetime image rights clauses but did not compensate them satisfactorily.
The accident involving 33 miners in Chile was a tragedy that turned into a story of hope and overcoming. The rescue, broadcast around the world, became a symbol of human unity and determination. Although the film has generated debates about representativeness, the story of the San José miners remains a remarkable example of resilience in the face of extreme adversity.
This episode not only changed the lives of the miners and their families, but also highlighted the need to improve working conditions in the mining industry globally.
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