A collapse at the El Teniente copper mine, operated by Chilean state-owned company Codelco, has resulted in one worker's death and five others trapped underground. The incident occurred following a seismic event in Chile's central region, though experts and some witnesses dispute the quake as the direct cause, suggesting instead a rock burst or structural failure. Rescue operations are ongoing, with over 100 brigadists involved, including personnel experienced from the 2010 San José mine rescue. The trapped miners are believed to be located approximately 900 meters below the surface in a section equipped with shelters containing oxygen, water, and food. The Chilean government has declared a Yellow Alert in Machalí and deployed resources to support the rescue. President Gabriel Boric has expressed condolences, suspended other engagements, and instructed the Minister of Mining to oversee the response on-site. The Public Prosecutor's Office of O'Higgins has opened a criminal investigation for involuntary homicide related to the collapse. The accident raises concerns about Codelco's ability to meet production targets amid growing global demand for copper, as the collapse affects a key new section of the mine. Former Codelco executives and experts have highlighted challenges in communication with families and the complexity of the rescue, while the company confirms it has sufficient resources to continue efforts. Laurence Golborne, former minister and ex-president of Codelco, has joined the technical rescue team. The event marks one of the most serious mining accidents in Chile in recent decades.
Laurence Golborne se incorpora al equipo técnico que lidera el rescate de los cinco mineros atrapados en El Teniente https://t.co/EpjRiGHIKQ
🟠 | Exministro Laurence Golborne se suma a consejo de rescate | EN VIVO #T13Finde » https://t.co/tdFda9tz69 https://t.co/gmIiSr3ZGv
Contrarreloj en El Teniente: Rescatistas luchan por alcanzar a 5 mineros atrapados a horas del plazo crítico https://t.co/JgJfzSY0DT