UPDATE: A rescue operation is underway for five miners trapped at Codelco’s El Teniente mine in Chile, following a significant collapse triggered by a 4.2 magnitude tremor that struck the site on Thursday. The workers have been isolated for 18 hours without contact with rescue teams, and tragically, one miner has already lost their life.
El Teniente’s General Manager, Andres Music, confirmed during a press conference that the tremor caused extensive damage, making it impossible for rescuers to access the area. “The tunnels are closed, they’ve collapsed. There’s no possibility of even radio communication,” Music stated, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Codelco aims to reach the trapped miners within the next 12 hours. The company anticipates that aftershocks will diminish, allowing the deployment of remotely operated equipment to assist in clearing the debris blocking access to the trapped workers. Nearly 100 rescue personnel are currently on site, and Music emphasized that the next 48 hours will be crucial for the operation.
Authorities are currently investigating whether the collapse was a result of natural seismic activity or mining operations. Music noted that this incident is among the largest events El Teniente has experienced in decades, raising concerns for the safety of both workers and the mining operation’s future.
El Teniente, located approximately 75 kilometers southeast of Santiago, is the world’s largest underground copper deposit, spanning over 4,500 kilometers of tunnels. It produced 356,000 metric tons of copper last year. The mine’s new Andesita project was slated to begin production in the second quarter of this year, adding to the urgency of the ongoing rescue and recovery efforts.
As Codelco prepares to release its financial results for the first half of the year today, the impact of this tragic incident on future operations remains unclear. Meanwhile, the company continues to focus on the immediate goal of rescuing the trapped miners and providing support to their families during this harrowing time.
Stay tuned for further updates as this developing story unfolds.
