Compensation of 1.4 million dollars from the State to Chilean miners

The Chilean state will pay a total of 1.4 million dollars in compensation to 31 of the 33 miners who were trapped for 69 days in the San José copper and gold mine 13 years ago.

The Supreme Court of Chile rejected the objection presented by the State Defense Council (CDE) and considered the miners justified and ordered the State to pay 1.4 million dollars in moral damages. According to the court’s decision, it is established that each of the 31 miners will receive $48,000 in moral damages.

In the lawsuit they filed, the miners alleged that state institutions did not comply with their security obligations and filed a claim for non-pecuniary damages before the Labor Directorate (DT) and the National Geology and Mining Service (Sernageonim).

They were underground for 69 days.

On August 5, 2010, a dent occurred at the San José copper and gold mine in Chile, trapping 33 miners 700 meters underground.

17 days after the accident, the workers were located through a well and found to be alive.

An American technician specially made a 4-millimeter-thick steel capsule and a rescue capsule called “Phoenix”, 2.5 meters long, 54 centimeters in diameter and 250 kilograms in weight, to get the miners out of the tunnel, which is approximately 70 centimeters wide.

In this capsule there was enough oxygen and an emergency exit for 3 hours, as well as a sound and visual system. The rescue work, which lasted approximately 22.5 hours, was successfully concluded with the rescue of the 33 miners after 69 days. (AA)