Drilling into the San Jose Mine in Copiapo, Chile, where the miners have been trapped underground for more than two months. Photo by Roberto Candia / AP.
A truly fascinating component of the Chile Mine Disaster was the media coverage and world’s reactions. As the world looked on in both horror and fascination at the disaster unfolding before their eyes, the news media garnered unprecedented views. News ratings skyrocketed, especially once the news media started interacting with the trapped miners. Coverage of the disaster once the miners were found to be alive steadily increased daily, and spiked during the rescue itself. On that day, global news traffic hit a two-year high at about 4 million page views per minute to watch the rescue (Indvik 2010). Fox news attracted 7.1 million viewers in one hour, more than double its normal broadcasts. And CNN had 110 million page views that day (Indvik 2010). While one might expect a higher number of views during the actual rescue, doubling viewers for any single event shows the impact that the rescue effort coverage had. Each news source understood that the more sensational the story, the more their ratings would increase, which led them to favor the rescue efforts. BBC spent $160,000 covering the disaster once the miners were discovered to be alive and justified it because of the massive numbers of people who were watching (The Guardian, 2010).
The world’s watchers were clamoring for information as well as magnanimous in their outpouring of support for the miners. Online chatroom discussions, tweets, e-mails and comments to news sources about the mine disaster were created and/or sent. Below is some of the responses from around the world. Feel free to sort the messages by name, country or type of message! Select a number from the drop down display to choose how many messages you want to read at once.
| Name | Country of Origin | Type of Message | Message for the miners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anand Mahindra | India | Tweet | "The one place in the world I'd like to be right now: Chile - to cheer the miners' rescue. A metaphor for why we struggle and survive" |
| Consuelo Solar | Chile | Tweet | "A lot of excitement in the camp as the T-130 drill made it to the mine. Relatives are now running up the hillside where they had put up Chilean flags." |
| Diego Rivadeneira | Chile | Tweet | "This is a very good way to start the weekend. Everyone in my family is very happy." |
| Fred Durst | United States | Tweet | "I'm so grateful they've finally reached the trapped miners in Chile today! I wish them a safe rescue." |
| Kyaw San Win | Myanmar | Tweet | Well done and congratulations to everybody including the suffering miners and families and also to those who helped make this operation a successful one. |
| Laurence Golborne | Chile | Tweet | "Good morning! 'So fight for what you desire/ And don't lose your fire if something doesn't go well/ Today may be a really great day and tomorrow as well.'" |
| Vanessa Vasquez | Chile | Tweet | "I confess it - I hate that the government is making a feast out of the rescue. That's their job and what they're supposed to be doing anyway." |
| Carolina | United Kingdom | Comment | I am from Concepcion, Chile. This news is the second best news this year since it was found out that the miners were alive. As a Chilean, we need to finish this year with some happiness after so much pain. Thanks to all the people and countries that helped with this operation. Gracias. |
| Ian Paul Kenchington | Chile | Comment | "I'm relieved to know that we are almost ready to pull these men out of the depth of the mine. It is now when the real challenge comes to our country. For the people outside Chile: know that these men are almost national heroes. Let's hope they all get in one piece to the surface." |
| Rudi | United Kingdom | Scarcely believable. If I had a faith I would say it is a miracle. As it is I have to say it is a tribute to the courage of the trapped men and the ingenuity and technical skills of their rescuers. I do not know these people personally, although we probably all have come to think that we do, and it is simply wonderful news. I shall not get a better Christmas present this early - early though it is. Thank you. | |
| Ajith | India | Comment | Great news. I am wishing all the miners a safe journey from the mother earth's womb to the world of love, where millions of strangers pray for them as well as their loved ones. |
| Roger | United Kingdom | Comment | It is great news that the rescue of the miners is getting closer. I am very impressed with the Chilean authorities in the way they have handled this mining event. They have taken a situation which could have been a tragedy and it looks as though they are making it a triumph. I hope in the future they will continue the good work and make their mining industry a safer one. We should not forget the miners who have shown a great deal of bravery and team spirit. They have worked together for the good of each and all. This could so easily have been a great tragedy, instead it has become a lesson to us all. |
| Simran Kaur | Vatican | Comment | The miners finally gonna get evacuated Wednesday finally! I really can't imagine being stuck down there for a month. |
| Masaka | Zambia | Comment | I would like to appreciate the government of Chile and all parties involved in the efforts they have put in to reach this far. I will be one of the most happy to read and see pictures of these trapped miners when they come out of the underground. |
| Jerry Doyle | Ireland | Comment | Absolutely delighted with the news. I have been a deep-sea fisherman for 60 years and in 2001 it was mistakenly thought that I had died at sea. My wife and family had an anxious 10 hours or so, so we can empathise with the families of those hard working miners. Buiochas le Dia. Dios gracias - Thank God for their delivery. |
| Nimra Ahmed | Canada | Comment | Can't help but smile. The engineers did a great job. Hopefully the families are reunited soon. |
| Bob | United Kingdom | Comment | I have spent 44 years working underground so I know exactly what their feelings will be. It will be brilliant to see these poor men brought to the surface. I have watched the whole procedure from beginning to end, and have felt everyone's pain and anguish. I shall be in tears for them when they bring them out. God's speed to you all. |
| Alfred Nzala | Zambia | Comment | I have kept my eyes glued to theTV hoping for good news and I keep going online on BBC mobile ever since the miners' ordeal began. Being a miner I feel so relieved that their rescue is imminent. No one on the surface can ever know how they felt to be trapped for such a long time. God bless the miners. |
| Francis Mattei Rosaly | Puerto Rico | Comment | I admire the courage of the miners and the rescue operation. I am absolutely sure that the rescue will be successful. We will be following all the details and wish them a happy return to the surface. |
| Atis | India | Comment | Being an engineer I thank our fraternity in Chile to have done this wonderful achievement. I suggest that engineering fraternity of Chile needs to be honoured for such a rescue mission. Very warm regards from an Indian engineer |
| Bright | Greece | Comment | I am with you Chile. I am imagining your experience and courage to winch the brave guys to the earth. I hope all ends well to bring all these precious friends back to the light again. Bad things can happen, but Chile, has shown love and care to the world in every minute you work at this rescue, God bless you |
| Mik | Australia | Comment | Fantastic! These guys should become national heroes and get a full pension for the rest of their lives. Let's just hope that the final act of getting them out goes without a hitch. Good luck to all involved. |
| Harrison | Malawi | Comment | This is good for everybody around the world and a special day to all Chileans. |
(Culled from BBC)
Not only was there an outpouring of support from individuals are the world, but there were also heartwarming reactions that came from prominent news sources from many different countries around the world. My favorite of these comes from Nigeria. Below are reactions from 6 different countries:
“(This) remarkable story of how the miners survived the ordeal and the ingenious rescue operation is one of hope and inspiration. It shows what the human spirit is capable of when put to the test. It is also a heart-warming example of how a nation can come together and show unity and resilience in times of adversity… Hopefully, this event will prompt governments around the world, especially in countries like Pakistan, to review safety protocols in order to protect the lives of miners.” – The Dawn in Pakistan
“For a brief time, the hearts and minds of the people of the world were in unison. Everyone, including Jamaicans, who was aware of the rescue of miners trapped more than half a mile below ground level rejoiced at their miraculous good fortune…Viva Chile: praise for the Chilean government and people for their humanitarian treatment and rescue of the miners but we say ‘no mas’ to the inhumane and unsafe profession of underground mining.” – The JamaicaObserver in Jamaica
“President (Obama) hailed the rescue as a tribute not only to the determination of the rescue workers and the Chilean government, but also the miners and the Chilean people who have inspired the world” – White House Press Release in The United States
“The Hollywood film industry could not have better scripted the dramatic rescue of 33 miners from a collapsed mine in Chile that has unfolded on millions of television screens around the world. In the past 48 hours viewers witnessed dozens of heart-rending scenes as the carefully managed rescue – of the miners trapped underground for more than two months – came to a triumphant conclusion.” – BusinessDay in South Africa
“Anyone who watched the live rescue efforts could be forgiven if they wished, or even felt, that they were Chileans. The spontaneous outpouring of national fervour and pride among Chileans, for the positive worldwide attention they got, for their leaders who rallied to provide leadership at a critical period, was so palpable it brought out tears in people who witnessed the event, even non-Chileans. We join the rest of the world in congratulating the Chilean people and government for this historic rescue, for no one is thought to have survived nearly 70 days underground as the Chilean miners have.” – The DailyTrust in Nigeria
“The end of a tragic accident in a mine pit 700 meters underground that was way ahead of expected rescue schedules is the outcome of hope, love, science, teamwork, willpower and sophisticated organization…Congratulations also to their rescuers. From planning to operation, the entire rescue process was flawless and strikingly efficient….We share the joy over the perfect rescue operation on the other side of the Pacific.” – The ChinaDaily in China
Please check out below my website’s pages that were constructed to elaborate and elucidate more about the Chile Mine Disaster:
Home: Trapped Above and Below: Reflections on the Chile Mine Disaster
1. Who’s Who: Mining Ministers, Media Messengers and Mistresses Oh My
2. A Miner’s Life For Me (or not): A Glimpse into Before and After the Tragedy
3. Artistic Representations: Personal and Other
5. Works Cited