Tragedy of Alpatacal

The tragedy of Alpatacal occurred on 7 July 1927 in Mendoza Province, Argentina, when a train full of passengers, mostly cadets from the Military School of Chile, crashed with another one waiting at the small train station of Alpatacal.

The Chilean military were on their way to Buenos Aires to participate in celebrations of the Independence of Argentina and the birthday of President Bartolomé Mitre.

[1] Despite the situation, the survivors arrived in Buenos Aires and participated in the celebrations, due to the order of General Bartolomé Blanche to comply with the invitation of the Argentinian government.

A street in Liniers neighborhood was named "Alpatacal" and in the military school of Santiago there is a memorial paying tribute to the dead cadets; it is a place used in ceremonies to give out honors to cadets for outstanding action in service.

[3] A sculpture in bronze by Argentine artist Alberto Lagos representing the union of Argentina and Chile was installed at the crash site.