Codelco Halts South Pit at El Teniente After Mudslide

State-owned copper producer Codelco has partially suspended operations at its El Teniente mine in Chile following a heavy rain-triggered mudslide that killed two contractor workers and injured a third.

The fatal incident occurred shortly before 2:00 p.m. local time (1700 GMT), when a landslide struck three employees from contractor Aura Ingeniería SA who were inspecting the mine's south pit sector.

"Actions aimed at safeguarding the well-being of the three workers who were in the area at the time of the incident were immediately activated," Codelco stated in a release.

Casualties and Rescue Response

Following the slide, emergency response teams recovered all three individuals. One worker was successfully rescued and transported to a medical facility for treatment, while rescue teams later confirmed the deaths of the remaining two trapped workers.

The severe weather in central Chile that triggered the mudslide has prompted immediate regulatory oversight. Chile's mining regulator, SERNAGEOMIN, intervened at the site to evaluate safety conditions and enforce operational restrictions.

"Operations in the south pit sector of the mining operation will be suspended," SERNAGEOMIN stated regarding the regulatory enforcement.

Operational Status at El Teniente

While the south pit sector remains offline under the regulator's mandate, the broader status of the rest of the underground and surface complexes at the massive copper deposit has not faced total closure. El Teniente ranks as one of the largest underground copper mines in the world, making any localized stoppage a critical event for national output.

The partial suspension highlights the operational vulnerabilities major mining firms face during extreme weather events in the Andean region. Heavy seasonal rainfall frequently tests infrastructure resilience across central Chile's mining districts, forcing operators to balance production targets against worker safety and environmental hazards.