Tragic Collapse at El Teniente Mine Claims Lives of Six Workers

Chilean authorities confirmed on Sunday the tragic death of six workers who went missing following the collapse at El Teniente, the world's largest underground copper deposit. The discovery of the last body during early morning hours signified the end of a grueling rescue operation that had to be conducted under extreme conditions, with no contact ever established with the missing workers. The catastrophe was preceded by a magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck the Andesita gallery, located more than 1,200 meters deep within the mine. Regional prosecutor Aquiles Cubillos expressed that the swift recovery of the bodies, despite the inherent risks, contributed to bringing peace to the grieving families. In the wake of the incident, the Chilean Prosecutors Office has ordered a temporary closure of the accident-affected area and initiated an investigation to determine whether the earthquake was a natural occurrence or induced by ongoing drilling operations conducted by Codelco, the state-run company managing the mine. Codelco's president, Máximo Pacheco, speculated on Friday that the drilling practices might have triggered the seismic event, stating, 'When one is working on the rock and drilling, the rock reacts with seismic movements.' However, these claims were promptly disputed by Andrés Music, the general manager of El Teniente, who insisted that no explosives or drilling activities were responsible. In light of various speculations, the Chilean government has urged careful consideration of the facts. Interior Minister Álvaro Elizalde emphasized that in Chile, mining accidents are investigated by Sernageomin—the National Service of Geology and Mining—which oversees safety and establishes the causes of such incidents. 'This is a highly technical investigation, and its conclusions will be deemed valid by the Chilean state,' Elizalde stated. President Gabriel Boric also called for restraint, asking the public not to rush to conclusions about the cause of the tragedy while pledging a thorough investigation after the rescue efforts concluded. 'It is not the time to look for culprits. The priority now is to concentrate all efforts on rescuing the miners,' he asserted. Boric assured that a thorough review of all safety protocols would take place once the rescue operation was completed, stressing that companies cannot absolve themselves of responsibility. El Teniente, located 120 kilometers south of Santiago in the Andes mountain range, is one of the oldest underground mines globally and the largest copper deposit of its kind. Nationalized in 1971 under Salvador Allende's government, it produces over 350,000 metric tons of fine copper annually and encompasses more than 4,500 kilometers of tunnels. The mine employs over 20,000 people, making it a significant player in Chile's economy. This recent incident marks the worst tragedy at the El Teniente facility in over three decades. Previous incidents include the 1990 rock burst that resulted in six deaths and the infamous Smoke Tragedy of 1945, which took the lives of 355 individuals due to a fire and toxic gas inhalation. More than a hundred personnel were mobilized for the rescue effort, including veterans from the historic rescue of the 33 miners in the San José mine in 2010. Approximately 3,200 tons of debris were removed from the galleries to facilitate the recovery process. Ultimately, the bodies of the five trapped workers were discovered in Level Teniente 7, where no communication was ever established. Chile, the world's leading copper producer, has made significant strides in reducing mining fatalities over the years. According to Sernageomin data, the mortality rate has decreased by 75% since the San José mining accident. However, with eleven fatalities already recorded in the current year—exceeding last year's total—there remains a growing concern about the safety of mining operations. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2