More than 100 people had been involved in the search for workers at the El Teniente copper mine, the world’s largest underground mine.
Published On 3 Aug 2025
All five workers trapped at a copper mine in Chile have been found dead, according to a regional prosecutor, after rescue teams cleared more than 24 metres (78 feet) of underground passages that collapsed in a strong earthquake last week.
Prosecutor Aquiles Cubillo of the O’Higgins region said on Sunday that the body of the fifth trapped worker had been found at the El Teniente copper mine.
More than 100 people had been involved in the search for workers at the El Teniente copper mine, the world’s largest underground mine, in Rancagua, about 100km (62 miles) south of Santiago.
“We deeply regret this outcome,” Cubillos said.
The latest death brings the total toll from the accident to six, including one person who died at the time of the incident on Thursday evening.
Chile’s state-owned mining company Codelco discovered the first trapped worker on Saturday and another three on Sunday. It has not yet commented on the final worker.
The miners had been working at a depth of more than 900 metres when the collapse happened, killing one colleague and halting operations at the site. Their exact location had been pinpointed with specialised equipment.
Minister for Mining Aurora Williams announced the temporary cessation of activity at the mine on Saturday.
The mine began operating in the