Following tragedy, Church assists
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LOS ANGELES, Chile — Chilean Church members offered assistance, love and support after 45 army recruits were killed while training in the Andes.
The Chilean military suffered its worst peacetime catastrophe May 18 when 45 soldiers died after being trapped by a snowstorm during a march through Andes Mountains. Most of the recruits were about 20 years old, belonged to the Chilean Army's 17th Regiment, and had recently volunteered for military duty.
The tragedy devastated many Chileans. In a region prone to earthquakes and flooding, Chileans are accustomed to facing natural disasters. Still, they have rarely had to grieve for so many deaths at once.
Following the tragedy, scores of people gathered at the regiment's headquarters in the southern city of Los Angeles to support grieving families of the young victims. Most of the families were from poor, rural backgrounds. The search for the bodies lasted more than three weeks because an abundance of snow made the recovery effort slow and difficult.
In the midst of this pain, Church members offered assistance to victims' families as they awaited news of their loved ones.
Members from the Los Angeles Chile Stake cooked meals for families who had found refuge in the gymnasium of the regiment's armory, which became an improvised center for information following the tragedy. The members also provided hygiene kits for 30 recruits that survived the training but had suffered injuries requiring care in the regiment's infirmary.
Thanks to the hygiene kits, the young soldiers were able to clean up before meeting their families.
LDS soldiers were counted among the survivors.
Nataly Cordova Quintana was training with a group of fellow soldiers who were able to reach shelter when the brunt of the storm hit. Still, she had to trudge along icy roads and across a river through blinding snow without provisions before finding relief. She is saddened by the loss of friends to the tragedy.
"God has given me another opportunity," Sister Cordova Quintana said.
Sister Cordova Quintana said she is looking forward to a military career, "but I'll go another direction if it is God's will."
Another LDS recruit, Jorge Flores, also escaped the storm. "I've learned to trust in God and seek His guidance," he said.
After surviving the disaster, Brother Flores added he hopes to be "a good soldier for God and better serve my country and the Church."
