Serious questions remain over safety of mine

AMID the celebrations over the Chilean miners’ rescue, several key questions remain unanswered.

Owners of the copper and gold mine still have to explain why it was allowed to operate at all.

Attention will also focus in coming days on the rescued miners themselves, their emotional scars must be tended — and it remains to be seen how many will want to return to the job that nearly killed them.

President Sebastian Pinera seemed unequivocal about the fate of the San Jose mine.

“This mine will definitely never open again,” he said.

He also said the conditions that allowed the accident “will not go unpunished. Those who are responsible will have to assume their responsibility.”

Pinera said the rescue would end up costing “somewhere between $10 and $20 million (€7m-14m) ,” a third covered by private donations with the rest coming from state-owned Codelco and the government itself.

Many believe the collapse occurred because the mine was overworked and violated safety rules.

The families of 27 of the 33 rescued miners have sued its owners for negligence and compensatory damages.

Pinera said he would in the coming days be offering a new proposal for better protecting Chilean workers.