The 33 (2015) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

The mine collapsed because the mountain's geological conditions had become unstable. Shift foreman Luis had discovered broken glass from mirrors placed in the mountain's fissures, a sign that the rock was shifting dangerously. He warned his boss Castillo that the mine should be closed, but Castillo ignored these warnings and ordered the miners to continue working. Shortly after, a violent earthquake caused boulders to cascade down, trapping the workers underground.

Foreshadowing: Luis's discovery of broken glass and his urgent warnings to Castillo before the shift began foreshadowed the disaster.

• mine collapse
• san jose mine
• causes
• safety warnings
• luis

Boss Castillo refused to shut down the mine despite Luis's warnings because doing so would have interrupted operations and cost money. When Luis presented evidence of instability, broken glass from fissure mirrors, Castillo dismissed his concerns as unnecessary caution. This decision put production ahead of worker safety, ultimately leading to the disaster that trapped 33 miners underground.

• safety
• castle
• luis warnings
• mine closure
• negligence

Mario emerged as a leader on Day 2 when tensions erupted over dwindling food rations. After Darío attacked Yonni to steal food, chaos threatened to consume the group. Mario stepped up and took control of ration distribution, enforcing fairness while maintaining order. His willingness to take responsibility and his refusal to give up, continuing to explore escape routes even when others surrendered, earned him the respect and trust of his fellow miners.

• mario
• leadership
• miners
• rations
• darío
• yonni

Álex attempted self-harm on Day 14 after a drilling breakthrough turned to despair. When a drill finally reached the Refuge, the miners celebrated, believing rescue was imminent, only to realize the drill had missed their location entirely. The crushing disappointment broke Álex, who was already struggling with the isolation and his longing to see his pregnant wife Jessica. Mario talked him down, reminding him of his responsibilities as a father.

Foreshadowing: The failed drill on Day 14 created false hope that directly led to Álex's breakdown.

• ál alex
• self-harm
• suicide
• day 14
• drilling failure
• jessica

On Day 58, the rescue team realized one of the drill trajectories risked hitting a critical support beam in the Refuge. The miners agreed to use a controlled explosion to remove this beam, despite the danger it posed to everyone trapped below. This risky decision was necessary because the beam blocked the path for the rescue capsule, and without removing it, the final rescue could not proceed.

• controlled explosion
• day 58
• support beam
• rescue capsule
• drilling

Communication was established on Day 17 when a drill punctured the cavern above the Refuge. Although the drill didn't reach the miners directly, the vibration and sound traveled through the rock. The miners banged against the drilling machine, and Laurence Golborne heard the noise above ground. This breakthrough confirmed to the world that all 33 miners had survived the collapse.

• communication
• day 17
• drilling
• laurence golborne
• rescue

The first drill on Day 14 missed the Refuge because of miscalculations in the drilling trajectory. Although the drill broke through into the underground cavern, it emerged in a different location than where the miners were sheltering. The engineers had incorrectly estimated the position of the Refuge, causing the drill to bypass the trapped workers entirely and crush their hopes of immediate rescue.

• drill failure
• day 14
• refuge
• engineers
• andre saugaret

After the rescue, the San José Mining Company was acquitted of criminal negligence in court, meaning they faced no criminal charges for the disaster. The miners also received no compensation from the company for their suffering and ordeal. Despite this injustice, the survivors formed a deep bond through their shared experience that has endured to this day.

• san jose mining company
• acquitted
• uncompensated
• aftermath
• justice

Edison led a coup against Mario because as Mario became the public face of the miners, communicating with the media and families above ground, some miners grew jealous and resentful. Edison resented that Mario received more recognition for their collective survival. The strain of 69 days underground, combined with limited resources and fame, created tension that erupted into this leadership challenge.

Foreshadowing: Mario's increased visibility as the miners' representative created friction long before Edison's open challenge.

• edison
• coup
• mario
• leadership
• jealousy
• miners

The miners survived by gathering in the Refuge, a safety station 2,300 feet underground with enough provisions to last approximately three days initially. Mario carefully rationed the limited food, which bought time until rescue supplies could be lowered through boreholes. They maintained hope by establishing Camp Hope underground, sharing stories, and eventually receiving iPods, magazines, and letters from families, key to their psychological survival.

• survival
• 69 days
• rations
• refuge
• camp hope
• provisions

The broken glass Luis discovered came from mirrors placed in the mountain's fissures to monitor rock stability. When these mirrors shattered, it indicated the mountain was shifting, clear evidence of imminent danger. Luis used this as proof that the mine was becoming unstable and urged his boss Castillo to close operations. Castillo's decision to ignore this warning directly led to the collapse.

• broken glass
• mirrors
• luis
• safety
• rock shift
• warning

Álex was chosen as the first miner to be rescued because he had been experiencing the most psychological distress during the ordeal, including his suicide attempt on Day 14. The rescue team and his fellow miners wanted to bring him to safety first so he could receive immediate medical attention and be reunited with his wife Jessica, who was pregnant with their child.

Foreshadowing: The emotional weight of Álex's struggles made him the natural choice for the first rescue.

• ál alex
• first rescue
• jessica
• pregnant
• emotional
• priority