Chile’s state mining company shut one of its largest copper mines on Thursday after a partial collapse killed at least one person. Rescuers were searching for five others on Friday.
The National Copper Corporation of Chile, known as Codelco, said a “seismic event” on Thursday afternoon caused the accident. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded a magnitude 5 earthquake 17 miles northeast of Machali, where the El Teniente mine is located, at 5:34 p.m. local time.
In a statement, Codelco said Paulo Marín Tapia was killed while working on the Andesita project, which is part of an expansion of the El Teniente mine.
On Friday morning, rescue teams were still searching for the five missing workers.
Andrés Music, the general manager of the El Teniente division, said at a news conference on Friday morning that the company knew “exactly where they are,” although he said that officials had not yet been able to communicate with the workers.
The area experienced aftershocks for hours after the initial quake, complicating rescue efforts, Mr. Music said. But he said he hoped the aftershocks would begin to fade, allowing more robust rescue operations. The next 48 hours would likely be “key to the rescue,” he said.
Mr. Music said that 100 rescue workers were involved in the operation at El Teniente, including some who helped free 33 trapped miners in the Atacama Desert in 2010, and whose story of survival and rescue drew worldwide attention.
Nine others were injured in the collapse at El Teniente, according to Codelco. Operations at the mine were immediately suspended after the incident on Thursday afternoon, Codelco said.
Francesca Regalado is a Times reporter covering breaking news.
Jonathan Wolfe is a Times reporter based in London, covering breaking news.
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