Print

Chilean rescuers recover the bodies of 4 miners who were trapped in a collapsed shaft

By The Associated Press
Posted 12:57PM on Sunday 3rd August 2025 ( 4 days ago )

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — The bodies of four out of five miners trapped in a collapsed section of one of Chile's biggest copper mines for three days have been found and identified, an official said Sunday.

Rescue workers at the El Teniente mine, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of the capital Santiago, are still looking for the fifth miner, identified as Moises Pavez, mine director Andres Music said.

The trapped miners were located thanks to GPS devices, but rescue workers had to drill through dozens of meters (feet) of rock to reach them.

A section of the mine collapsed following a 4.2 magnitude quake on Thursday, killing one worker and injuring nine others.

Authorities are investigating whether it was a naturally occurring earthquake or whether mining activity at El Teniente caused the tremor. Chilean prosecutors also launched a criminal investigation to determine whether any safety standards were violated.

El Teniente, located in the Andes mountains in central Chile, is the world’s largest underground copper mine and is owned by Chilean state company Codelco.

Shortly after Thursday’s collapse, Codelco halted operations at the affected section of the copper mine and evacuated 3,000 people from the wider site to safe areas.

The company canceled a presentation of its first-half financial results, set for Friday morning, due to the rescue efforts.

Chile, the world’s largest copper producer, also lies in the seismically active “Ring of Fire” that surrounds the shores of the Pacific Ocean.

FILE - Aerial view of El Teniente copper mine, operated by Codelco, where a collapse killed one worker and trapped five others underground, leading to a suspension of operations in Rancagua Chile, Aug. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix, file)
Workers walk at the entrance of El Teniente copper mine, operated by Codelco in Chile, where a collapse killed one worker and trapped five others underground, leading to a suspension of operations in Rancagua Chile, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
A person lights a candle during a vigil in front of El Teniente copper mine, operated by Codelco, where a cave-in killed one worker and trapped five others underground, halting operations in Rancagua, Chile, Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

http://accesswdun.com/article/2025/8/1296350

© Copyright 2015 AccessNorthGa.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.