Codelco Confirms Second Fatality in El Teniente Mine Collapse After 4.2-Magnitude Tremor

Chilean state-owned copper giant Codelco confirmed Saturday that rescue teams at its flagship El Teniente mine have recovered the remains of a second trapped miner, raising the death toll from Thursday’s collapse to two. Authorities are still working to confirm the identity of the victim.

The accident occurred in the Andesita section of the El Teniente mine, one of the world’s largest underground copper operations, following a powerful 4.2-magnitude tremor. The incident initially claimed one life, with four workers remaining unaccounted for.

Andres Music, general manager of El Teniente, expressed condolences to the families and said the discovery confirmed rescue efforts were progressing in the right direction. He added that operations would continue “with strength and hope,” but emphasized that additional safety measures could slow excavation.

Rescue crews have cleared just over 20% of the blocked tunnels leading to the trapped workers. Heavy machinery is being used to remove debris at a rate of 15 to 20 meters per day, though officials cautioned the timeline remains uncertain. Contact with the remaining miners has not yet been established.

The collapse highlights the risks facing Chile’s mining industry, particularly in seismically active regions. Authorities are investigating whether the tremor was triggered by natural tectonic activity or mining operations.

El Teniente, located in Maitenes in central Chile’s Andean region, is crucial to global copper supply and to Codelco’s production portfolio. The mine has a long history of both innovation and accidents, underscoring ongoing challenges in balancing productivity with worker safety in one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries.

Codelco pledged to continue search efforts while supporting the affected families as the investigation into the collapse proceeds.