"I know these people well. I have been in the tunnels of these mines; I have seen miners getting up at four in the morning. It’s hard work, more exhausting than many other professions"

Column by the head of RNW's Latin American section, Jose Zepeda.

The extremely claustrophobic 15-minute trip up to the surface is a tremendously difficult one for the trapped Chilean miners. But once they emerge they’re first falling into the arms of their loved ones, then going on to receive a thorough medical check up.

I know these people well. I have been in the tunnels of these mines; I have seen miners getting up at four in the morning. It’s hard work, more exhausting than many other professions.

Hope
As soon as I heard that part of the San José mine had collapsed and that 33 men were trapped deep down underground, I along with everyone thought they must be dead. The mine lies about 50 kilometres from the city of Copiapó, in the region where I was born. Mining disasters are common, and many miners have died in similar accidents. But the 250 relatives and friends of the miners knew they were experienced and that there was some kind of space down there, with supplies of water and oxygen, where they could survive. It was seventeen days later when it became know that they were actually still alive.
 
A quickly assembled rescue team hoped to be able to bring the men up sometime before Christmas. But the rescue actually ended up starting about one and a half months ahead of schedule.
 
 

Good information
Since the Dutch media discovered that I come from Copiapó, a city on the edge of one of the world’s most inaccessible deserts, I have been asked to comment on the rescue operation many times. An easy task, because I was receiving information from those leading the operation: the psychologist Alberto Iturra, the engineer Andres Sougarret and the director of the Organisation for Safety, Alejandro Pino. All three  professors at the University of Atacama.
 
Dignity
What touches me is the dignity of these trapped men and the local and international solidarity that has been shown; the strength and pugnacity of the families, whose faith has not faltered for a second, and of course the professionalism and humanity of the rescue team.
 
Mining, especially copper mining, is enormously important to Chile. Miners are poor people, yet a large part of the national economy depends on their work.
 
Flags
The 33 miners have gained temporary fame during their time trapped underground. They will now go on to travel, receive wonderful presents and money in exchange for their stories. But all that will come to an end, and then they will return to the everyday reality. Psychologist Alberto Iturra says almost all the miners want to return to working in the mine. All except for one, who wants to become a baker.
 
Soon the camp set up by the media, rescue workers and families at mine will be dismantled. Perhaps they will leave behind a memorial in the shape of the 33 Chilean flags, waving to the rhythm of the desert wind.