Santiago – President Sebastian Pinera of Chile today met the 33 rescued miners at the hospital where they are recovering and announced a review of mine safety.
Speaking outside Copiapo Hospital, he promised that never again in Chile will people be allowed to work in such inhumane conditions.
The president described the rescue of the men after more than two months trapped underground as “a miracle”.
At least two of the men were due to be discharged from hospital today.
Of the rest, several are receiving treatment for dental and eye problems, and two have the lung disease silicosis.
The rescue concluded earlier when Luis Urzua was brought to the surface.
The Chilean leader said Urzua’s words had “touched my soul . . . when he said that this should never happen again”.
Pinera said it was impossible to guarantee that Chile would never face such an accident in the future.
“But we can guarantee one thing: never again in our country will we allow working in conditions so inhumane and so unsafe as happened in the San Jose mine and many other places in our country.”
President Pinera promises a review that will lead to a “very radical change” affecting the health and safety of workers in the transport, fishing and construction industry as much as mining.
All of the miners are now in hospital in Copiapo, being treated in two wards that have been darkened to allow the men to adjust to the light. (BBC)
