As Earthquakes Dominate, Chileans Remember the Impact at "Cruz de Los Muertos"

Earthquakes commanded international headlines this week, namely a 7.0 magnitude quake in Peru and another of 5.9 that jolted a long stretch of the eastern United States.

But in Chile and other earthquake-prone areas, the aftershock can last far longer than a minute and a half clip on evening news. One terrible earthquake has marked a community in Valparaíso, Chile, for over a century. Last week, they came together to remember lives lost from one of their most deadly shake-ups.

On August 16, 1906, an earthquake accosted the city that lies on the mountainous coast on the Pacific Ocean.  It stole the lives of more than 3,000 people. Some of these victims rest in the “Cruz de los Muertos,” (Cross of the Dead) located on the “Cerro Merced” (Mercy Hill).  As of last week, they’ve remained inside of Mercy Hill 105 years. In one patch of the cemetery, called,  "Los Recuerdos" (the memories), there sits a gravesite, constructed in 1944.

In order to commemorate the symbolic date, Father Oscar Zamora held a Eucharist. The mayor of Valparaíso Jorge Castro and the people who live in town came to pay their respects.

The mayor said, “Here there is a very important part of our intangible heritage left by the terrible earthquake. Here, there are the bodies of many people from Valparaíso. The neighbors today remember their departed loved ones. Together they prepared a video with all of the compiled historical facts to revive the stories of those buried in this grave. It has been an emotional ceremony in the square that cherishes the memories of the dead. This site makes a difference to the community, giving the victims that lie here a place to rest, as they deserve.”

For the community surrounding the gravesite, this was an important day because the event acts as a constant presence in their lives.  For them, this patch of ground serves as a sacred site. They often light candles and pray.

Reinaldo Muñoz, president of local neighborhood group (N 14), said:

 “I know this place because my father showed it to me when I was a little kid. He always told me that this site was used by poor people with nowhere else to bury their dead. This was moving to him. His lesson taught me respect and citizenship.

With the neighbors, we’ve fought to keep up this place over the years, and Mayor Castro helped us to improve it. The monolith is a sacred place for us, where everyone comes each Tuesday to light candles.”

In the ceremony, they also recognized more seasoned neighbors, who have a long-time understanding of the history of “La Cruz de los Muertos.” They opened new mosaics, which shed light on how a devastating earthquake can shape a community for generations. The Women’s Community Union and the neighborhood kids joined forces to create the work that honors their collective memory.

We have a plan to spread the word of the provinces to the world. The number of stories published outside of Chile highlighting the rich culture and diversity of the regions are few and far between. By writing in English, we aim to change that. We strive to foster a deeper cultural understanding for English speakers in Chile and offer more content to English-speaking Chileans.

If you know a local story that could have a broader impact, please email me ([email protected]), tweet me (@Katie_Manning), or just comment below. I’d be excited to write your stories in English.