**Codelco Suspends Contracts at El Teniente Mine After Fatal Collapse**
**Meta Description:** Codelco halts contracts at El Teniente copper mine following a deadly collapse, seeking approval to reopen affected areas.
**URL Slug:** codelco-el-teniente-mine-collapse
**Codelco Suspends Contracts at El Teniente Mine After Fatal Collapse**
Codelco, Chile’s state-owned copper mining company, has announced the suspension of contracts with third-party workers at its El Teniente mine until at least August 13. This decision comes in the wake of a tragic incident that occurred last week, resulting in the deaths of six individuals due to a significant tremor that caused tunnel collapses in the new Andesita section of the mine.
The tremor, which struck on July 31, led to extensive damage, with initial estimates of 700 meters of affected passageways now revised to approximately 3,700 meters, according to Aquiles Cubillos, the prosecutor for the O’Higgins region. The damage has impacted two or three areas of the Andesita section and five or six areas of the Recursos Norte unit. El Teniente, known for its extensive network of tunnels, spans about 4,500 kilometers deep within the Andes mountains.
In a statement, Codelco indicated that the suspension of labor contracts applies to all companies directly involved in the incident. The company is currently working with the mining regulator Sernageomin to seek approval for the reopening of ten specific work areas within the mine, although it has not disclosed which areas are being targeted.
On Friday, Cubillos and his team conducted a review of four damaged levels of the mine, which were not the sites of the injuries and fatalities. They met with Codelco’s technical experts to assess the situation further. Investigators are documenting the damage with photographs to create a comprehensive map of the affected areas.
As Codelco navigates the aftermath of this incident, the focus remains on ensuring safety and restoring operations at one of the world’s largest copper mines.
**FAQ**
**What caused the collapse at El Teniente mine?**
The collapse was triggered by a major tremor on July 31, which resulted in significant damage to the mine’s tunnels, particularly in the Andesita section.