On Sunday, October 11, Codelco reported an avalanche in the open pit sector of the El Teniente Division, in the municipality of Machalí, O’Higgins Region, near Adit 42, according to Cooperativa. Three workers were at the site: one was assisted and taken to a medical center, and the state company immediately activated safety and search-and-rescue measures, according to DF and La Tercera. Relatives first put the toll at one dead; at night Codelco confirmed that the two remaining workers, from a subcontracting company, had died. According to La Tercera, they were workers of the subcontractor San Lorenzo, which provided services through Aura, and their duties were tied to inspecting sectors of the pit whose operations had been suspended because of bad weather. The union asked for an inquiry into why they were carrying out work in a critical zone. The media describe the event as a mud or snow avalanche, depending on the source; DailyDrop has not yet seen the official cause, the names of the victims or the start of an investigation by the Labor Directorate (Dirección del Trabajo).
Subcontracting and safety at work sites in adverse weather are a central issue in Chilean mining. If it is proven that there were workers in a zone that should have been closed, responsibility could reach the subcontractor, the principal contractor and the state company alike.
For people who live in the area or work in mining, the case is a reminder to review the protocols for rain and snow. For everyone else, the immediate effect is on Codelco’s copper production, which DailyDrop has not seen quantified.
The company stresses that it immediately activated the rescue protocols and that operations at the pit were suspended.
The union questions why people were working in a critical sector while mining operations were halted.
The question that matters is who ordered the inspection and with what risk assessment. The report from the labor authority and Sernageomin is the thing to watch, along with whether Codelco reports the impact on its production.
Cooperativa, La Tercera, DF, Reuters, Teletrece (Oct. 11–12, 2026)
Two subcontractor workers die in an avalanche at Codelco’s El Teniente mine
On Sunday, October 11, the avalanche trapped three people in the open pit; one was rescued and two were found dead. The union wants to know why they were in a critical zone with mining operations suspended.
Codelco reported on Sunday an avalanche in the open pit sector of its El Teniente Division, in the municipality of Machalí, O’Higgins Region. Three workers were affected: one was assisted and taken to a medical center, and at night the state company confirmed the deaths of the other two, according to Cooperativa, La Tercera and DF. Reuters picked up the company’s initial notice.
The dead were workers of the subcontractor San Lorenzo, which provided services through Aura, and they were carrying out inspections in sectors of the pit whose operations had been suspended because of bad weather, La Tercera reported. The union asked for an inquiry into why they were working in a critical zone. President Kast said “it has been a hard winter for Chile”, according to Teletrece. DailyDrop has not yet seen the official cause or the names of the victims.