**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 significant collapse that occurred last week, resulting in the tragic deaths of six individuals due to a major tremor on July 31. The tremor caused extensive damage, leading to the caving in of tunnels surrounding the newly developed Andesita section of the mine.
In a statement, Codelco clarified that the suspension of labor contracts affects all companies directly involved in the incident. The company is currently in the process of seeking approval from the mining regulator, Sernageomin, to reopen ten specific work areas within the mine, although it has not disclosed which areas are under consideration.
Aquiles Cubillos, the prosecutor for the O’Higgins region, reported that the collapse has damaged approximately 3,700 meters (3.7 km) of passageways, a figure significantly higher than the initial estimate of 700 meters provided by Codelco. While the exact severity of the damage remains unspecified, Cubillos indicated that it has impacted two or three areas of the Andesita section and five or six areas of the Recursos Norte unit.
El Teniente, one of the largest underground copper mines in the world, features an extensive network of around 4,500 kilometers of tunnels deep within the Andes mountains. On Friday, Cubillos and his team conducted a review of four damaged levels of the mine, which do not include the areas where the fatalities occurred. They also met with technical experts from Codelco to assess the situation further. Investigators are documenting the damage with photographs to create a comprehensive map for future reference.
As Codelco navigates the aftermath of this tragic event, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of workers and restoring operations at one of its most critical mining sites.
**FAQ**
**What caused the collapse at El Teniente mine?**
The collapse at El Teniente mine was triggered by a major tremor on July 31, which led to the caving in of tunnels in the Andesita section, resulting in six fatalities.
