Soldiers lost
The week's news at a glance.
Los Angeles, Chile
Forty-five Chilean soldiers froze to death last week when they were hit by a “snow tsunami” on a march in the Andes Mountains, said the army’s commander, Gen. Juan Emilio Cheyre. The disaster touched off a political crisis for the Chilean Armed Forces, still tainted by the abuses committed under the rule of former dictator Gen. Augusto Pinochet. Commanders sent more than 400 newly drafted and poorly equipped soldiers into the mountains despite warnings of severe weather. When the blizzard hit, many officers abandoned their troops to seek shelter. “The miserable villains,” said the uncle of one victim, “are the officers that lived.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Maternity wards in crisis: the 'shocking' birth trauma report
Talking Point Parliamentary inquiry shines a light on 'scarcely believable scandal'
By The Week UK Published
-
Will Biden's tariffs hinder China's EV dominance?
Today's Big Question Climate change goals and American jobs in tension
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
What is spaving and how can it lead to overspending?
The Explainer When you spave, you spend more money under the auspices of saving
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published