One dead, five missing after collapse at Chile copper mine
One worker is dead and five remain missing after a collapse at a copper mine in central Chile, triggered by a 4.2-magnitude earthquake on Thursday evening, according to state-run mining giant Codelco.
The incident occurred at the Andesita project, part of the El Teniente mine, the world’s largest underground copper operation. Codelco identified the deceased as Paulo Marín Tapia. Nine other workers were injured, though none critically.
Rescue teams have been unable to reach the collapse site as of Friday morning. Operations at the mine were suspended immediately, and Codelco has launched an investigation into the deadly collapse.
El Teniente’s general manager Andres Music said Codelco expected aftershocks from the earthquake to diminish in the next 12 hours, allowing the company to step up rescue efforts.
The Andesita project, formerly known as the New Mine Level, is located in the northwestern part of the El Teniente division, beneath the older Quebrada Tenient production level. The project aims to access deeper mineral reserves located 180 metres below current operations as upper levels approach exhaustion.
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