On August 3rd, Codelco confirmed that all five workers trapped in the El Teniente underground copper mine have died, following a 4.2 magnitude earthquake that struck central Chile on Thursday night. The last body was recovered Sunday afternoon after a multi-day rescue operation.

The incident brings the total death toll to six and marks one of the deadliest accidents in the mine’s modern history. Rescue teams managed to clear only 25.5 of the 90 meters of collapsed passage due to ongoing aftershocks.

In response, Chile’s mining ministry has suspended all operations at the site. Codelco has launched an investigation into whether seismic activity alone caused the collapse or if mining activities contributed. Chairman Maximo Pacheco stated that international experts will be brought in to determine the cause.

President Gabriel Boric has declared three days of national mourning. El Teniente, the world’s largest underground copper mine, produced 356,000 tonnes of copper in 2024.