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Monumento a Los Soldados

Antuco, Chile

Monumento a Los Soldados

On May 18, 2005, Major Patricio Cereceda of the Chilean Army ordered 474 conscripts from the 17th Regiment of Los Ángeles to march 28 km along the side of the Antuco Volcano at altitudes between 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) and 1,700 metres (5,600 ft). The march took place despite warnings from sergeants

and corporals who requested the exercise be canceled due to deteriorating weather conditions. Major Cereceda remained at a military mountain shelter during the march. Of the five companies sent on the march, only one was equipped with mountain survival gear. Many of the conscripts, mostly teenagers, had been in service for less than three months. Five hours into the march, a severe storm hit, resulting in a viento blanco (whiteout) that disoriented the troops. While many conscripts managed to find shelter or hike to safety, 44 conscripts and one sergeant succumbed to hypothermia or exposure.

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