(Sept. 16, 2005) Families of soldiers killed last May in a blizzard in southern Chile have sued the government for 13 billion pesos (US$24.3 million). Claiming moral and psychological damages from the event, 25 families have brought charges against six military officials for negligence in the line of duty.
The demand represents the largest amount of money ever sought in a lawsuit against the state of Chile.
45 soldiers died during military training exercises on the Atuco volcano in the southern Andes after an unexpected blizzard separated them from their units. Rescue efforts were hampered by continued bad weather conditions and contributed to the high number of casualties (ST, May 20).
Charges were originally brought against three officers for failing to fulfill their duties. No officers lost their lives in the tragedy prompting harsh criticism from families claiming that they had abandoned their sons in the snow. Investigators found that only one of the four units involved was properly equipped for the snowy conditions causing further criticism of the military.
State lawyers are not sure when they expect to reach a verdict.
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