Rancagua, August 1, 2025.- Codelco confirmed that five miners remain trapped after the magnitude 4.2 seismic event that occurred yesterday at 5:34 p.m., 500 meters deep in the Andesita sector of the El Teniente Division, and which was detected by both the National Seismological Service and international systems.

Through its general manager, Andrés Music, the possibility that the event was caused by explosives or human drilling was ruled out. "The seismic activity is associated with mining and local tectonics," he stated. It should be noted that seismic events are frequent in underground mining at this depth. This earthquake is likely of that nature, which must be confirmed by the investigation.

According to the executive, during a press conference held early today at the divisional offices in the O'Higgins Region, as soon as Codelco teams received the alert about the accident, emergency brigades were activated, immediately beginning the evacuation, which ended at 6:30 p.m. He explained that at the time, 500 people were working at Andesita and a total of approximately 2,500 were working throughout the mine, all of whom were relocated to different safe zones.

Shortly after 10 p.m., the death of Paulo Marín Tapia, of Salfa Montajes, was confirmed, "due to a rockfall in Andesita, in the western sector of the deposit, one of the deepest sections of El Teniente, following the seismic event recorded in the area." He added that five other Gardilcic workers were on Level Teniente 7, north of the deposit, at the time of the incident and remain trapped.

He explained that a team of approximately 100 people is involved in the rescue efforts, made up of geophysicists and geomechanics—who are reviewing the seismic response—as well as rescuers, some of whom participated in the rescue of the 33 miners in San José in 2010. The group is led by the manager of El Teniente Mines, Rodrigo Andrades, who has been working all night.

Music added that they have exact information on the missing men's location, "because the shift manager passed through the area 15 to 20 minutes earlier, conducting a safety check with the workers. And we know they're there because (the five miners) were waiting for a team to arrive." He added that "the next 48 hours are critical to reaching them."

It was reported that communication with them has not been established because the tunnel they are in has collapsed. Furthermore, the rescue area remains at high risk, with ongoing aftershocks. Current work consists of removing material and clearing the area with remote-controlled machinery to reach the victims as quickly as possible.

General Manager Andrés Music added that seismic events are common in underground mining at this depth. This earthquake is likely of that nature, and must be confirmed by the investigation.

The company was emphatic in emphasizing that they have made and will continue to make every effort to find the workers.

Codelco has already initiated an investigation, which will be supported by national and international experts, and is making all available information available to the competent authorities.

The emergency committee that was formed immediately after the seismic event will remain in operation permanently, as long as necessary, to safely recover the five trapped workers.

Codelco will continue to keep the public informed on an ongoing basis as relevant information becomes available.

Codelco