One miner has died and five are trapped underground after a collapse at a copper mine in Chile, the world's largest underground copper deposit, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
Nine other mine workers were injured, Chile's National Copper Corporation, known as “Codelco“, said on Friday, calling the incident the result of a “seismic event”.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude 5 earthquake in the region of central Chile, where “Codelco“'s “El Teniente“ mine is located. The company said the quake had a magnitude of 4.2.
Authorities said they were still investigating whether it was a natural earthquake or if mining activity caused the tremor. Chilean prosecutors have also opened a criminal investigation to determine whether any safety standards were violated.
There has been no contact with the five miners underground and it is not clear whether they are alive. The company is working to organize a rescue operation.
"We are making every effort to try to save these five miners," said Andrés Musique, general manager of El Teniente, describing a rescue operation involving 100 experts, including some who took part in the dramatic rescue in 2010. of 33 trapped miners in northern Chile who were pulled to the surface after 69 days underground.
“The next 48 hours are critical“, the mine's general manager said.
The company “Codelco“ has suspended operations in the area of the mine affected by the collapse and evacuated 3,000 people.