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Inquiry on Mine Collapse in Chile Ends With No Charges Inquiry on Mine Collapse in Chile Ends With No Charges
(42 minutes later)
SANTIAGO — A three-year investigation into the San José mine collapse that trapped 33 miners a half-mile underground for 69 days, thrusting them into the glare of international celebrity, has been closed without holding anyone responsible, the prosecutor said on Thursday. SANTIAGO, Chile — A three-year investigation into the San José mine collapse that trapped 33 miners a half-mile underground for 69 days, thrusting them into the glare of international celebrity, has been closed without holding anyone responsible, the prosecutor said Thursday.
There was not enough evidence to determine the cause of the accident or to charge the mine owners, Alejandro Bohn and Marcelo Kemeny, or officials of the government mining agency in charge of enforcing safety standards, with criminal responsibility in the collapse, according to the Atacama regional public prosecutor, Héctor Mella.There was not enough evidence to determine the cause of the accident or to charge the mine owners, Alejandro Bohn and Marcelo Kemeny, or officials of the government mining agency in charge of enforcing safety standards, with criminal responsibility in the collapse, according to the Atacama regional public prosecutor, Héctor Mella.
“This was a complex case, and we did everything we legally could to gather evidence, with the collaboration of specialized police units and technical agencies,” Mr. Mella said at a news conference Thursday in Copiapó, a city near the mine. “This was a complex case, and we did everything we legally could to gather evidence, with the collaboration of specialized police units and technical agencies,” Mr. Mella said at a news conference on Thursday in Copiapó, a city near the mine.
A spokesman for the prosecutor’s office said the case was closed on July 22.A spokesman for the prosecutor’s office said the case was closed on July 22.
The prosecutor’s finding seemed to contradict those of a congressional investigative commission, which said in a 2011 report that the mine owners “could have avoided” the collapse and that the government mining agency, Sernageomin, had failed to supervise mining operations and enforce its own decisions. Mine owners and company officials “not only did not adopt the work safety measures required by the authorities, but moreover they blamed government agencies and then the workers” for the accident, the report said. The prosecutor’s findings seemed to contradict those of a congressional investigative commission, which said in a 2011 report that the mine owners “could have avoided” the collapse and that the government mining agency, Sernageomin, had failed to supervise mining operations and enforce its own decisions. Mine owners and company officials “not only did not adopt the work safety measures required by the authorities, but moreover they blamed government agencies and then the workers” for the accident, the report said.
The prosecutor’s investigation was opened days after the 120-year-old gold and copper mine, 500 miles north of Santiago, caved in on Aug. 5, 2010, trapping the men. The government set up a monumental rescue effort, bringing drilling experts from a dozen countries and operating several enormous drills to reach the men.The prosecutor’s investigation was opened days after the 120-year-old gold and copper mine, 500 miles north of Santiago, caved in on Aug. 5, 2010, trapping the men. The government set up a monumental rescue effort, bringing drilling experts from a dozen countries and operating several enormous drills to reach the men.
Once all 33 were found alive more than two weeks later, NASA specialists, and a team of nutritionists, doctors and psychologists kept them supplied with water, food, medicine, other items and messages through several ducts drilled through the rock, The team also improvised telephone and videoconference systems to connect the men with their families, who had set up Camp Hope, a makeshift community at the mouth of the mine. Once all 33 were found alive more than two weeks later, NASA specialists and a team of nutritionists, doctors and psychologists kept them supplied with water, food, medicine, other items and messages through several ducts drilled through the rock. The team also improvised telephone and videoconference systems to connect the men with their families, who had set up Camp Hope, a makeshift community at the mouth of the mine.
Camp Hope became a hub for volunteers from all walks of life and for hundreds of reporters from all over the world.Camp Hope became a hub for volunteers from all walks of life and for hundreds of reporters from all over the world.
While still 2,300 feet underground, the 33 men were already famous around the globe as symbols of hope and survival. The miners were rescued on Oct. 13, 2010, in a custom-made capsule that lifted them, one by one, through one of the drilled shafts to the surface.While still 2,300 feet underground, the 33 men were already famous around the globe as symbols of hope and survival. The miners were rescued on Oct. 13, 2010, in a custom-made capsule that lifted them, one by one, through one of the drilled shafts to the surface.
The investigation sought to establish the criminal responsibility of the mine owners for safety conditions at the mine, which did not meet basic standards, and of Sernageomin officials who knowingly allowed it to continue operating that way.The investigation sought to establish the criminal responsibility of the mine owners for safety conditions at the mine, which did not meet basic standards, and of Sernageomin officials who knowingly allowed it to continue operating that way.
Union leaders had persisted in warning of the hazards of the San José mine, where accidents and injuries were commonplace in the years leading up to the collapse. In 2004 a miner died as a result of a cave-in, and two years later another accident claimed a life. But the San Esteban company that controlled the mine continued to attract workers with higher-than-average salaries. although the work was known to be perilous, Union leaders had persisted in warning of the hazards of the San José mine, where accidents and injuries were commonplace in the years leading up to the collapse. In 2004, a miner died as a result of a cave-in, and two years later another accident claimed a life. But the San Esteban Mining Company, which controlled the mine, continued to attract workers with higher-than-average salaries, although the work was known to be perilous.
Then in January 2007, a geologist was killed during a rock explosion in the mine and the government mining agency, Sernageomin, ordered it closed until new safety measures were in effect. But a year later, without the new measures fully in place, it was back in operation. Just two months before the 2010 accident, a miner’s leg was amputated as a result of another accident. Then in January 2007, a geologist was killed during a rock explosion in the mine and Sernageomin ordered it closed until new safety measures were in effect. But a year later, without the new measures fully in place, it was back in operation. Just two months before the 2010 accident, a miner’s leg was amputated as a result of another accident.
The most outgoing of the 33 miners, Mario Sepúlveda, who still offers motivational talks, criticized the prosecutor’s investigation.The most outgoing of the 33 miners, Mario Sepúlveda, who still offers motivational talks, criticized the prosecutor’s investigation.
Mr. Bohn and Mr. Kemeny are “free and happy going about with their lives, even though they left us buried underground,” Mr. Sepúlveda told the Web site Soy Chile. But considering the local judicial system, he added, describing that system with a strong Spanish expletive, “what else can we expect?” Mr. Bohn and Mr. Kemeny are “free and happy going about with their lives, even though they left us buried underground,” Mr. Sepúlveda told the Web site Soy Chile.
But considering the local judicial system, he added, describing it with an expletive, “What else can we expect?”