Bishop Juan Barros of the Military Diocese of Chile and Bishop Miguel Caviedes of Los Angeles, Chile, traveled to southern Chile to meet with family members of the soldiers who died or went missing during a snow storm in the Andes near Antuco.

Nearly 40 soldiers most of them under 20 years of age, died or disappeared last weekend when they were overcome by a snow storm during a march in the Andes Mountains, 300 miles south of Santiago.  The accident was the worst peacetime tragedy in the history of the Chilean military.

Priests from the local diocese have also reached out to family members, offering Masses and prayers for the victims and their families.