Marcinelle – “That tragedy, which took away 262 miners, including 136 Italians, decisively contributed to the formation of a European conscience. This was only a year before the signing of the Treaties of the European Communities, of which we celebrated the 60th anniversary this year.” Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano wrote in a message addressed to Italians abroad on the eve of Marcinelle’s tragedy commemoration. On August 8, 1956, a fire broke out in one of the coal mines in the Bois du Cazier (Marcinelle – Belgium) caused a disaster that marked the history of Italian emigration forever: 262 victims from 12 different countries Including 136 Italians. (9colonne)
