CHILE – A Chilean state mining company announced Saturday that one of the five workers trapped in a copper mine has been found dead, bringing the death toll from Thursday’s collapse to two.
Rescue teams have been racing to save the remaining men trapped in El Teniente — one of the world’s largest copper mines — after a mine shaft collapsed, according to Codelco, the state-run company that operates the site.
Andrés Music, general manager of the mine, said at a Saturday press conference that a prosecutor and public minister would be responsible for identifying the worker’s remains. “We know this news hits hard for the families of our colleagues and for our entire mining community,” Music said in a statement following the discovery. “We will continue working with all our strength and hope, but now with greater caution, which may mean slower progress.”
The National Seismological Center of the University of Chile recorded a 4.3 magnitude earthquake near the mine on Thursday. According to Codelco, the quake and subsequent collapse also left nine people injured. On Friday, Codelco CEO Rubén Alvarado said, “The first 48 hours are fundamental” to finding the men alive. He explained that 20 meters (65 feet) of debris in the tunnel needed to be removed to reach the area where they believe the workers are trapped. As of Friday, only four meters had been cleared.
Located in central Chile’s O’Higgins region, El Teniente is the largest known copper deposit in the world, according to company data. The incident has halted operations as rescue workers dig through the rubble in a race against time.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday that his government would do “everything in its power” to find the missing miners. “I have instructed the Minister of Mining, Aurora Williams, to be on-site to coordinate all necessary actions,” he wrote.
At Saturday’s press conference, Boric extended his condolences to the family of Paulo Marín Tapia, who was confirmed dead in the collapse, and said he remains in contact with the loved ones of the five men still trapped. As time passes, the anguish of their families and fellow miners continues to grow.
“Hope dies last,” said Edgar Rodrigo Quesada, a miner and former union leader. He told CNN that although there is a shelter within the tunnel in case of a collapse, it is not close to where the miners are believed to be. It remains unclear whether they managed to reach it in time. (CNN)
