Tragedy Strikes El Teniente: Codelco Pledges Safety Overhaul After Workers Found Dead

In a tragic turn of events, all five workers who were trapped in Chile's El Teniente copper mine collapse have been found deceased, bringing the total death toll to six, as announced by state-run miner Codelco on Sunday. The accident has pushed Codelco to promise a thorough investigation into safety measures at the site.

Codelco Chairman Maximo Pacheco declared that international experts will be called upon to determine the cause of the collapse, which followed a significant 4.2 magnitude tremor, questioning whether it stemmed from natural seismic activity or mining operations. "We're the first ones who want to know what happened," said Pacheco, emphasizing the tragedy's impact on the organization.

As a response, President Gabriel Boric announced three days of mourning for the fallen workers, aged 29 to 34. Known as the world's largest copper producer, Codelco's El Teniente mine stands as a significant player in the global copper supply, producing 356,000 metric tons last year from its vast underground network.

(With inputs from agencies.)