A tragic incident occurred on Thursday at Chile’s El Teniente copper mine, the world’s largest underground copper mine, following an earthquake that caused a structural collapse. The mine is operated by the state-owned company Codelco.
According to Codelco’s official statement:
“Codelco reports the death this afternoon of our colleague Paulo Marin Tapia.”
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake, which struck at 5:34 PM (2134 GMT), led to the collapse that has left one confirmed dead, five workers missing, and nine others injured (none critically).
Incident Details
| Event | Details |
| Date & Time | Thursday, 5:34 PM (2134 GMT) |
| Earthquake Magnitude | 4.2 (local report), 5.0 (US Geological Survey) |
| Location | El Teniente Mine, Rancagua, 100 km south of Santiago |
| Confirmed Fatalities | 1 (Paulo Marin Tapia) |
| Missing | 5 workers |
| Injured | 9 workers (non-critical) |
| Mine Operator | Codelco (State-owned) |
Rescue efforts are currently underway. Codelco’s president, Máximo Pacheco, confirmed via Cooperativa Radio:
“We have already reached some of them.”
The US Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a magnitude 5.0 shallow earthquake approximately 35 km from Rancagua, overlapping with the local seismic readings.
About El Teniente and Chile’s Copper Industry
- El Teniente (“The Lieutenant”) is a critical asset in Chile’s mining sector, renowned as the world’s largest underground copper mine.
- Chile leads global copper production, accounting for nearly 25% of global output.
- Copper is a vital resource used in electrical wiring, motors, and renewable energy infrastructure.
This incident has highlighted the vulnerability of even the most advanced mining operations in seismically active zones. Rescue operations continue as Chile monitors the situation closely.
