One of five miners trapped after a partial collapse at the world’s largest underground copper mine has been found dead, Chile’s state-owned mining company Codelco reported on Saturday. Rescue teams are still searching for the other missing workers.
The collapse occurred Thursday at the El Teniente mine near Rancagua, about 100 kilometers south of Santiago, following what officials described as a “seismic event.” It remains unclear whether this was a natural tremor or caused by mining activities.
More than 100 rescuers are working to reach the miners, who were working on expanding the mine to a depth of 1,200 meters when the accident happened. Rescue crews are currently drilling through 90 meters of rock to access the trapped workers.
Codelco confirmed in a statement that human remains had been located during search operations, though authorities have not yet formally identified them. Andres Music, El Teniente’s general manager, said while the discovery was heartbreaking, it helped confirm they were searching in the right area for the remaining miners.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric visited the miners’ families on Saturday and promised to continue the search efforts. He expressed confidence in Codelco’s ability to conduct the operation, citing the company’s resources, experience, and technology.
On Friday, authorities recovered the body of another miner, Paulo Marin Tapia, who was not among the five originally reported missing. The accident occurred shortly after the mine’s partial collapse.
Operations at El Teniente – which first opened in the early 1900s and features over 4,500 kilometers of underground tunnels – have been temporarily suspended. The mine produced 356,000 metric tons of copper last year, accounting for nearly 7% of Chile’s total output.
As the world’s top copper producer, Chile supplies about a quarter of global demand, with production reaching approximately 5.3 million metric tons this year. Copper is essential for electrical wiring, motors, and renewable energy technologies.
