Rescue teams in Chile are continuing their efforts to locate five miners trapped inside the largest copper mine in the world, following a seismic event that caused a partial collapse of the mine, resulting in one fatality and the suspension of operations.
The mine’s general manager, Andrés Moschik, reported that around 100 individuals are involved in the search effort, which commenced nearly 12 hours after the incident occurred. This mine, El Teniente, is situated approximately 100 kilometers south of Santiago.
In a statement to the press, he noted, “So far, we have been unable to establish contact with them. The tunnels are closed due to the collapse. The trapped workers were operating at a depth exceeding 900 meters when the incident took place, and they have been accurately located using specialized equipment.”
Michael Miranda, the brother of the missing worker Juan, who is 31 years old, expressed to the press that their families are eagerly awaiting updates on their safety.
Standing in front of the offices of the state mining company Codelco in Rancagua, he stated, “They haven’t explained anything to us,” adding that his brother’s wife is pregnant and has not been communicated with by the company. “There’s been no psychological support or anything at all.”
Mining Minister Aurora Williams announced a temporary halt to activities at the mine, which has been in operation since the early 20th century and features over 4,500 kilometers of underground tunnels.
Last year, El Teniente produced over 392,000 tons of copper, accounting for approximately 7% of Chile’s total output.
Authorities have reported that the collapse occurred after an earthquake on Thursday afternoon, though it remains undetermined whether it was caused by natural conditions or the mining operations.
The rescue team includes several individuals who were part of the successful operation that freed 33 miners trapped underground for over two months in the Atacama Desert back in 2010, an event that gained significant international media attention.
As the world’s largest copper producer, Chile is responsible for a quarter of global supplies, with an estimated production of around 5.8 million tons in 2024.
The mining sector in Chile is regarded as one of the safest globally, with a reported fatality rate of 0.02% last year, according to the National Geology and Mining Service of Chile.