To mark the 70th anniversary of the tragedy, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation addressed a message to Italian nationals living abroad.
The Honourable Minister Tajani recalled the tragedy of 8 August 1956, when 262 workers lost their lives in the Bois du Cazier mine in Belgium, including 136 Italians, making the Marcinelle disaster a European tragedy. Hon. Min. Tajani emphasised that “From that grief also grew the realisation that Europe should be not merely an economic area, but a community based on rights, solidarity and the protection of the individual.”
Since 2001, 8 August has been designated as the National Day of Remembrance for the Sacrifice of Italian Workers Worldwide.
