The accident comes as Chile’s state-owned copper producer remains under scrutiny following a fatal incident at the same mine in 2025.
Two contractor workers have died following an avalanche in the open-pit area of El Teniente, the copper mine operated by Chilean state-owned producer Codelco.
The accident occurred on Sunday, 11 October 2026. According to Codelco, the two men were carrying out inspections in an area where operations had been suspended because of adverse weather conditions. They worked for San Lorenzo, a contractor providing services to another company operating at the site, Aura.
Rescue teams located the two workers after they were reported missing. Chilean authorities launched an investigation to establish the circumstances of the incident. Codelco said it would cooperate with investigators and expressed its condolences to the victims’ families.
Operations Partially Suspended
Open-pit activities were suspended following the accident. Underground operations and processing facilities, however, continued to operate, according to reports following the incident.
The open-pit area accounts for a relatively small share of El Teniente’s total production. If the suspension remains confined to that section, the immediate impact on output could be limited. The ultimate effect will depend on how long the shutdown lasts and what investigators find.
Renewed Focus on Mine Safety
El Teniente, one of Chile’s major copper assets, experienced a serious fatal accident in July 2025. A collapse associated with a seismic event killed six people and injured nine others.
The circumstances of the two incidents differ, and there is currently no established evidence linking them directly. The latest accident nevertheless puts risk management back in focus, particularly when severe weather affects workers’ movements and inspection activities.
For Codelco, the challenge is both human and operational. Coordination between the mine operator and contractors, decisions to suspend work, and the application of safety procedures are likely to be important areas of investigation.
The immediate priority is to establish what happened and support the victims’ families. The investigation’s findings should help determine whether additional measures are required before the affected activities can fully resume.
Source: Mining.com and reports on the incident. The precise circumstances remain subject to the investigation’s findings.
