Gone to See Patagonia 2010/2011. Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 20: Detained as Political Prisoners in Puerto Natales.
This morning the streets are quiet. There is black smoke from a bonfire to the east. There was a note under my door that said to have our bags ready to leave by 09:00. I don’t know if that means the roads will be open? If I don’t add more to this post, it may mean that we are moving — but that could be towards Punta Arenas or back to Argentina.
More info. The Red Cross list is now over 1000 stranded here in Puerto Natales. An additional 4000-5000 are stranded in the National Park.
An update from the Mathre family regarding the status of the photography trip to Patagonia: (taken from David Mathre by Erik via a phone call)
As of 6:30 EST, the Red Cross has gotten the photography group along with about 1,000 others into a Red Cross temporary refugee center in Puerto Natales where they are awaiting transfer by bus to a local airport and then by Air Force transport planes to Punta Arenas or Calafate Argentina. Hopefully, from there they can catch a flight to Santiago. Starting Monday, the Red Cross hopes to start getting the 5,000 or so out of Torres del Paine National Park.
22-January-2011 edit: Check out Thom Hogan’s blog about being held hostage in southern Chile.