A partial collapse at the El Teniente copper mine in Chile, the world’s largest underground copper mine, has resulted in one fatality and trapped five miners. Over 100 personnel are involved in the search and rescue efforts. According to Andres Music, general manager of El Teniente mine, “So far, we have not been able to communicate with them. The tunnels are closed, they are collapsed.” The miners were working at a depth of more than 900 meters when the collapse occurred, triggered by a 4.2-magnitude seismic event.
The Chilean government has announced a temporary halt in mining activities at El Teniente, while rescue efforts continue. “We will do everything that is humanly possible to rescue the five trapped workers,” said Maximo Pacheco, president of Chile’s state-owned mining company Codelco. “All of our experience, all of our knowledge, all of our energy and all of our strength are dedicated to this cause and to seeing this through.” The rescue operation is complex, with the exact location of the trapped miners pinpointed using specialized equipment.
The El Teniente mine, which has been in operation since the early 1900s, boasts over 4,500 kilometers of underground tunnels and produced 356,000 tonnes of copper last year, accounting for nearly 7% of Chile’s total copper production. Chile is the world’s largest copper producer, responsible for nearly a quarter of global supply. The mining industry in Chile is considered one of the safest, with a death rate of 0.02% last year.
The search team includes experienced rescuers who participated in the successful rescue of 33 miners trapped in a mine in the Atacama Desert in 2010. “The next 48 hours are crucial,” Music said, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. Codelco has canceled its first-half financial results presentation to focus on the rescue efforts. The cause of the collapse, whether natural or due to drilling, is still under investigation.
The rescue operation involves remotely operated equipment to remove debris and reach the trapped workers. According to Music, “It is one of the biggest events, if not the biggest, that the El Teniente deposit has experienced in decades.” The Chilean prosecutor’s office has launched a criminal investigation to determine whether any companies or workers violated safety standards or regulations.
Codelco has faced safety issues in the past, including 29 sanctions since 2021 and seven fatal accidents. The company is working to determine the impact of the collapse on its production targets. The Andesita sector, where the accident occurred, is expected to produce 60,000 to 70,000 metric tons of copper per year when it reaches full capacity.