Marcinelle mining disaster 70th anniversary marked in Belgium and Italy

Seventy years after the August 8, 1956 collapse of the Bois du Cazier mine in Marcinelle, Belgium, commemorations were held in both Belgium and Italy. In Marcinelle, the Italian CGIL union organised events on August 7‑8, including a public forum with CGIL secretary‑general Maurizio Landini and a ceremony at the mine site attended by International Trade Union Confederation chief Luc Tri. Funds from an evening dinner were earmarked for Cuba.

In the Italian town of Manoppello, identified as the "Città Martire" because 22 of its residents perished in the disaster, the municipal administration launched a cultural programme running from July 31 to August 8. The schedule featured book presentations, theater performances, and the national premieres of two documentary films about Marcinelle, with participation from local officials, victims' families and the mayor Giorgio De Luca.