Collapse of Chilean Mine Claims Three More Lives of Workers
In the early morning of 3:30 am, in addition to the two found, 3 more workers were found dead, bringing the total to 5 lost lives. In addition to the five found dead, nine others were found injured at the job site.
Owned by a Chilean state mining company, Codelco, El Teniente is located in the heart of Chile, where it is deemed the world’s largest underground copper mine.
As the death toll of a mining expedition rises, outsiders really worry about their loved ones trapped. According to NPR News, workers are trapped below 65 feet of debris caused by a magnitude 5 earthquake, which resulted in the partial collapse of the mine.
A general manager at the El Teniente mine says that citizens should rest assured because their rescuers are well-trained and have as much experience as they can get. Some of the workers even participated in helping to free 33 workers who were trapped for a total of 69 days at the Atacama desert in 2010, which drew worldwide attention, even making it into a Hollywood documentary.
Rescuers are at their peak using the best of technology, resulting in the successful find of all five bodies; later to be confirmed dead. Rescuers claimed they drilled “dozens of feet of rock” to reach the workers. All five workers are confirmed dead. Codelco leaders are facing as much grief and regret as the families of the workers.
The company is aware that such accidents might happen. Rescuers used GPS devices to locate all workers as they were unable to speak to them. It is said by Codelco that the expedition was immediately suspended once a portion of the cave collapsed after the earthquake.
Chile, a known seismically active country, is located in the “Ring of Fire”. However, authorities claim that they are still figuring out if the earthquake was caused naturally by tectonic plates shifting or by mining activities.
Outside resources:
https://www.npr.org/2025/08/04/nx-s1-5492043/chile-mining-collapse-bodies-recovered
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crlzk4dnxe5o
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/world/americas/chile-mine-collapse.html