The tragic incident, which has resulted in the death of one miner, sees rescue operations intensifying at the El Teniente copper mine, with hopes to locate the remaining trapped workers.
Ongoing Rescue Efforts for Miners Trapped in Chilean Mine Collapse
Ongoing Rescue Efforts for Miners Trapped in Chilean Mine Collapse
Rescuers continue their search for four missing miners following a deadly mine collapse triggered by an earthquake in Chile.
Rescue teams in Chile are intensifying their efforts to save four miners trapped after a collapse at the El Teniente copper mine, which occurred due to a 4.2 magnitude earthquake two days earlier. The state-owned Codelco mining company announced that a body had been discovered in the mine, approximately 70 km (43 miles) southeast of Santiago. Meanwhile, the search continues for the other four miners whose fate remains uncertain.
During the earthquake, which struck on Thursday, one miner was confirmed dead while five others became trapped underground. Codelco has informed the families of those still missing, and the identity of the recovered victim is pending confirmation. "This discovery fills us with sadness, but it also confirms that we are in the right place, that the strategy we followed led us to them," stated Andres Music, General Manager of El Teniente Division.
Rescue workers are deploying heavy machinery in a bid to clear blocked routes and advance toward the trapped miners. Music indicated that the team is managing to progress at a rate of approximately 15-20 meters (49-66 feet) within a 24-hour period. El Teniente, situated high in the Andes, is noted as the world's largest underground copper mine, exemplifying the vast scale of mining operations in the region.
