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All Five Trapped Miners Found Dead at El Teniente; Probe Launched

Operation of the state-owned mine is on hold pending investigations into the seismic collapse’s origins and safety protocols

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Un casque avec les noms des mineurs piégés dans le complexe minier El Teniente, exploité par le producteur de cuivre chilien Codelco, le 2 août 2025.
Des proches de cinq mineurs bloqués attendent des nouvelles après un effondrement partiel dans une mine de cuivre à Rancagua au Chili

Overview

  • On August 4, rescue teams confirmed recovery of all five miners trapped by the July 31 collapse at 1,200 meters, ending the search with no survivors.
  • The Ministry of Mines ordered a suspension of all activities at El Teniente to facilitate inquiries led by the Regional Prosecutor’s Office and industry regulators.
  • Investigators are examining whether the magnitude-4.2 seismic event that triggered the tunnel collapse was a natural quake or induced by drilling operations.
  • Codelco chairman Máximo Pacheco vowed full cooperation with authorities and committed to determining every detail behind the collapse.
  • President Gabriel Boric declared three days of national mourning and visited families in Rancagua to underline the human cost of Chile’s mining sector.