Santiago, August 1, 2025.- Codelco Chairman of the Board, Máximo Pacheco, announced that the company will deploy “all human, technical, and material resources” to rescue the five trapped workers following the accident at the El Teniente Division.

At a press conference, Pacheco expressed his condolences to the family of Paulo Marín Tapia, the worker who died in the accident, and stated that "Codelco will do everything humanly possible to bring the five trapped workers home."

The chairman of the board reported that the next 48 hours are critical and explained that the company is advancing simultaneously along two rescue routes: (1) entry through the tunnel, using remote-controlled equipment to remove the material blocking access; and (2) entry through shafts, using specialized drones to assess the condition of the tunnels and plan rescue routes.

In addition, the El Teniente Division International Council was convened. It is made up of world-class experts in underground mining, who are already working with Codelco to assess the situation. Among them are Chileans André Sougarret, leader of the "Rescue of the 33"; Octavio Araneda, former CEO of Codelco; and Ricardo Álvarez, director of Codelco, all former general managers of the El Teniente Division.

Pacheco emphasized that Codelco has the technology, experience, and the "most professional brigade in the country" to address the emergency, and that people's safety is the top priority. "Our promise is clear: we will be here as long as necessary to rescue the workers," he stated.

The chairman of the board also announced the opening of a meeting space for family members, where they will receive ongoing information and support.

"Codelco is a company that fills Chile with pride. Today we must demonstrate that our number one calling is to care for people," Pacheco concluded.

Codelco