The collapse on Thursday in Chile at the largest underground copper mine left four dead people, a person who was still missing in the accident that took place at 1,200 meters deep, announced the mining company this Sunday, August 3.
The earlier evaluation in the day reported three dead and two missing.
The world’s largest copper deposit
“In the last hours, we have managed to recover four bodies. The first Saturday afternoon, and during the night (Sunday), three others were found,” said Site director Andrés Music, told The Press. “It still remains to find a disappeared worker,” he added.
With its 4,500 km of galleries, the lieutenant is the largest underground copper deposit on the planet, owned by the Chilean Public Companies Code, the main copper producer in the world.
A collapse due to a “seismic event”
All minors found themselves in the same place, where there was a collapse caused by a “seismic event” on Thursday, whose origin, natural or caused by perforations, is being invested. At least 100 rescuers participate in rescue operations.
This is one of the most tragic accidents that occurred in the El Teniente mine in the last three decades. The activities of the mines have been paralyzed since Friday after an order issued by the Ministry of Mines to facilitate the investigation.
Last year, the Lieutenant produced 356,000 tons of metal, or 6.7% of all copper in Chile, the world leader, with 5.3 million tons per year. The Chilean mining industry is considered one of the safer in the world. In 2024, the mortality rate was 0.02%, according to the National Geology and Mines Service.
Source: BFM TV
