Santiago, Chile (EFE).- Rescue plan to free five miners trapped by a collapse at El Teniente, the world’s largest underground copper mine, is progressing, but contact has not yet been established with them, the mine’s owner, state-owned Codelco, reported Friday.
“We have been able to advance about 4 meters (of a target of 20 meters.) We still have no contact with the trapped workers, but we are experiencing a decrease in seismic activity, which allows us to work more smoothly,” Codelco CEO Ruben Alvarado said at a press conference.
The collapse was caused by a 4.2 magnitude earthquake recorded at 5:34pm on Thursday in the Andesita sector, one of the deepest sections of the mine, located in the O’Higgins region, about 120 kilometers south of the Chilean capital.
The rescue plan consists primarily of removing the rocks blocking the underground gallery using remote-controlled equipment to try to reach the miners.
“We are carrying out a meticulous and safe effort. The most important thing is to protect the safety of the brigade members and ensure that each step is solid,” Alvarado said.
The company reported in its latest report that at least 300 of the 5,000 tons of material blocking the gallery have already been removed.
The rescuers, some of whom participated in the famous rescue of the 33 miners trapped for 68 days in the San Jose mine in 2010, know exactly where the miners are trapped because they have GPS, although their health status is unknown.
“We are focused on making contact as soon as possible. The first 48 hours are critical,” Alvarado added.
The copper company itself said Friday that the rescue “is taking place in a difficult environment” because the mine has suffered “damage” as a result of the earthquake, with at least “300 linear meters severely damaged and 400 moderately damaged.”
The causes of the earthquake are still unknown, and could be associated with mining operations or local tectonics. Therefore, the O’Higgins regional prosecutor’s office has decided to open an investigation.
In addition to the five trapped miners, the landslide claimed the life of Paulo Marin, a worker at a Codelco contractor, and left at least nine others injured. They were able to escape and are currently hospitalized, but not in life-threatening conditions.
Thursday’s accident is the most serious in more than three decades at El Teniente, which has 4,500 kilometers of underground tunnels and where six miners died in another accident in 1990. EFE
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