Tragedy at El Teniente: Aftermath of a Deadly Mine Collapse in Chile

Five workers have been confirmed dead following a tunnel collapse at Chile's El Teniente mine after an earthquake. Rescue teams cleared over 24 meters of rubble to find the trapped miners. Operations have halted while an investigation determines whether the quake was natural or mine-induced.

A devastating tragedy unfolded at Chile's El Teniente copper mine after a tunnel collapse resulted in the death of five workers. The collapse followed a powerful earthquake, leading to intensive rescue operations that ultimately uncovered the deceased miners under 24 meters of rubble.

Prosecutor Aquiles Cubillos confirmed the grim discovery on Sunday, increasing the incident's death toll to six. This includes one worker who died during the initial collapse. Over 100 rescue personnel were involved in the extensive search efforts at El Teniente, known as the world's largest underground copper mine.

The mine's operations have been suspended temporarily, with investigations underway to determine if the 4.2 magnitude tremor was natural or induced by mining activities. El Teniente has been operational since the early 1900s and significantly contributes to Chile's copper production, a sector marked for its safety standards.

(With inputs from agencies.)