Urbano Ciacci

Urbano Ciacci was born in Fano in 1935 and in 1954 he began working as a miner in Belgium at Bois du Cazier, in the Marcinelle mine.

In 1956 he obtained a period of matrimonial leave and returned to Italy to marry Elsa Tonucci.

He was supposed to return to the mine on 6 August 1956, but his wife still had her dowry of sheets, blankets and mattresses to send and Urbano didn't want to leave her alone, so he waited for her so they could travel to Belgium together.

They left together from Milan on 8 August and, just before boarding the train, Urbano bought a newspaper, discovering the fire that had broken out a few days before.

The mine had been engulfed in flames and there was no way to save it.

Statement collected in collaboration with the “Italians of Europe” project conducted out with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.