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.

Rescuers have been unable to reach the collapse site as of Friday afternoon, but they aim to do so in the next 12 hours. Operations at the mine were suspended immediately, and Codelco has launched an investigation into the deadly collapse to determine whether it was due to natural causes or mining activity.

El Teniente’s concentrator and smelter had continued operating following the accident, but mine minister Aurora Williams announced on Friday afternoon the government was suspending all activities at the mine.

General manager Andres Music said Codelco expected aftershocks to diminish in the next 12 hours, allowing the company to step up rescue efforts. He confirmed the company has not been able to establish contact with the trapped workers, who are located in the Teniente Siete sector, about 550 metres underground.

“The event we recorded yesterday is one of the largest events – if not the largest – that the El Teniente mine has experienced in decades,” Music said in a statement on Friday.

He also said Codelco will deploy remotely operated equipment to remove the debris and reach the trapped workers, adding that next 48 hours will be “critical”.

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 was due to begin production in the second quarter of this year. It aims to access deeper mineral reserves located 180 metres below current operations as upper levels approach exhaustion.

El Teniente, in operation since 1905, produced 356,000 metric tonnes of copper in 2024. The massive complex stretches over 4,500 km of tunnels and underground galleries in the Andes Mountains, about 75 km southeast of Chile’s capital, Santiago.

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