Six Dead in Chile Mine Collapse

Starting last Thursday, rescue workers have recovered all six bodies from the El Teniente mine in Chile. These miners had been trapped after an earthquake, possibly triggered by mine activity, caused part of the mine to collapse.

Codelco, the state-owned company operating this mine, is the world’s largest copper miner, making this tragedy a significant one in terms of safety. In the past, there have also been several fatal mining accidents that left Codelco workers dead. However, it has promised to investigate this calamity and improve corresponding safety protocols.

Reporter Daina Beth Solomon from Reuters wrote in an article, “Codelco Chairman Maximo Pacheco said the state-run miner would convene international experts to investigate the cause and determine ‘what we did wrong.’”

On Thursday, at the time of the collapse, one worker was killed while others remained trapped under 65 feet of debris. Due to repeated aftershocks throughout the day on Friday, rescue operations began on Saturday and Sunday. The first worker’s body was found on Saturday, while the remaining five were discovered the next day.

By Saturday afternoon, an update revealed that 25.5 meters, or 84 feet, of passages were cleared and 3,270 metric tons of debris removed using remotely operated machinery. With this, Codelco called off the search and confirmed the total death toll at six.

The collapse of the El Teniente mine was triggered by a 4.2 magnitude earthquake, one of the largest quakes ever recorded in the region. Its location in the Andes Mountains, which lies on the “Ring of Fire,” leaves it prone to seismic events. Authorities are still trying to determine whether the earthquake was a natural one or caused by mining activity.

This tragic accident left a harsh impact on Chile, as the president of the country, Gabriel Boric, allocated three days to mourn the miners aged between 29 and 34. Over the weekend, a temporary memorial was set up at the entrance of the mine, where many people placed photos, candles, and Chilean flags.

So far, Codelco has identified two of the victims as Paulo Marín Tapia and Gonzalo Núñez Caroca. It said the others were to be identified “by the relevant authorities.”

“We share the anguish this situation causes their families and the entire community,” said Codelco.

There were a total of 15 casualties in this event, with nine workers lightly injured.

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/us/three-more-dead-collapsed-mine-chile-el-teniente.html

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/codelco-ends-el-teniente-rescue-effort-after-five-miners-found-dead-2025-08-03/

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crlzk4dnxe5o

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/codelco-ends-el-teniente-rescue-effort-after-five-miners-found-dead-2025-08-03/