Fatal Avalanche Strikes Codelco’s El Teniente Mine in Chile, Kills Two

Mining News  |  2026-10-13 05:42:17   |   By

The two victims were subcontractor employees who were reportedly conducting inspections in the open-pit area.

Summary

  • Avalanche at El Teniente Mine Claims Two Lives

    Chile’s state-owned copper producer Codelco confirmed that two subcontractor employees died after a snow avalanche struck the open-pit area of its El Teniente mine. The workers had reportedly been conducting inspections before being reported missing and later found dead. Investigative police and prosecutors have launched inquiries into the incident.

  • Open-Pit Operations Suspended Amid Limited Production Impact

    Open-pit mining operations remained suspended on Monday following the avalanche, while underground workings and processing facilities continued operating normally. According to a union representative, the affected pit accounts for less than 10% of El Teniente’s overall production, limiting the immediate impact on the mine’s total output.

  • Extreme Weather and Fatal Accidents Raise Industry Concerns

    Heavy rainfall, storms, and other severe weather events have disrupted mining operations and infrastructure across Chile in recent months, adding pressure to copper production. The latest fatalities follow a deadly rock burst at El Teniente in July 2025 that killed six workers, as well as recent fatal incidents at Codelco’s Radomiro Tomic mine and BHP’s Escondida operation.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Severe weather conditions continue to disrupt mining operations and heighten operational risks across Chile’s mining industry. The state-owned copper producer Codelco has reported two worker fatalities after a snow avalanche struck its massive El Teniente mine.

The two victims were subcontractor employees who were reportedly conducting inspections in the open-pit area. They were initially reported missing before being found dead on Sunday, according to the company. Investigative police and prosecutors have launched inquiries into the incident.

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Open-pit operations remained suspended on Monday, while the mine’s underground workings and processing facilities continued operating normally, according to a union representative. Incidentally, the affected pit accounts for less than 10% of El Teniente’s overall production.

Heavy rainfall, storms and other extreme weather events have disrupted mining operations and infrastructure across Chile in recent months, weighing on the country’s overall copper production.

The latest incident adds to a series of fatal accidents affecting Chile’s mining industry. El Teniente itself suffered a deadly rock burst in July 2025 that killed six workers and interrupted production. Codelco also reported a fatality at its Radomiro Tomic mine earlier this month, a week after a separate fatal incident was reported at BHP’s Escondida operation.