Rescuers in Chile are racing to find a missing miner after an earthquake on Thursday left five workers dead and many more trapped in the El Teniente mine.
Five workers were confirmed killed, with one dying immediately after the earthquake on Thursday. The remaining four have also been declared dead. Rescuers are now focused on finding the last worker, who is believed to be trapped by the collapse of underground tunnels.
The 4.2 magnitude tremor caused the tunnel collapse, which was triggered by heavy mining activity deep below the surface. Rescue teams have used heavy machinery to clear blocked passageways and reach the miners.
Codelco, the state-owned company that operates the mine, has named two of the victims but is working to identify the others. The company’s priority is now recovering the missing miner, who is believed to be trapped in a 24m stretch of blocked passages at the mine.
El Teniente is the world’s largest underground copper mine, located high in the Andes mountains. Authorities are investigating whether the earthquake was caused by mining activity or natural tectonic shifts.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crlzk4dnxe5o