UPDATE: Time is running out for five miners trapped at Codelco’s flagship El Teniente Mine following a devastating collapse caused by a 4.2 magnitude tremor that struck the Andesita unit. The incident occurred 18 hours ago, and immediate rescue efforts are underway as officials aim to reach the workers within the next 12 hours.
The tremor, which rocked the world’s largest underground copper deposit, has left rescue teams unable to make contact with the trapped miners. Andres Music, General Manager of El Teniente, confirmed at a press conference that the tunnels have collapsed, blocking access completely. “The tunnels are closed, they’ve collapsed. There’s no possibility of even radio communication,” Music stated.
Codelco, the Chilean copper giant, is currently assessing the situation, investigating whether the collapse resulted from natural seismic activity or mining operations. “The event we recorded yesterday is one of the largest events – if not the largest – that the El Teniente mine has experienced in decades,” Music added.
Rescue operations are being hampered by ongoing aftershocks, but Codelco expects these to diminish in the coming hours. Once conditions improve, remotely operated equipment, akin to robots or drones, will be deployed to assist in clearing the debris blocking the tunnels.
Nearly 100 personnel are on site to aid in the rescue efforts, with the next 48 hours deemed critical. Tragically, one worker has already died, and nine others have sustained injuries as a result of the collapse. The company has confirmed that neither explosives nor drilling activities contributed to the incident.
Codelco is scheduled to release its financial results for the first half of the year today, amidst growing concerns about the impact this disaster will have on production output at El Teniente. The Andesita unit was set to commence production in the second quarter of this year, marking it as one of Codelco’s newest projects.
El Teniente, which has been operational since 1905, produced 356,000 metric tons of copper last year and spans over 4,500 kilometers of tunnels in the Andes mountains, located approximately 75 kilometers southeast of Chile’s capital, Santiago.
As the situation develops, families of the trapped miners are anxiously awaiting news. Codelco officials are working tirelessly to ensure the safety of the workers and will provide updates as more information becomes available. The urgency of this rescue operation highlights the risks faced by those working in the mining industry, especially in an earthquake-prone region like Chile.
Stay tuned for more updates on this unfolding story as authorities continue to navigate the challenges of the rescue efforts.
