Operations suspended at Chile's main copper mine after two workers died

(See 'Mudslide in a mine in Chile...' at 8.07am) Chile's Ministry of Labor has ordered the suspension of all operations at the El Teniente copper mine, in the O'Higgins region, after the death of two workers caused by an avalanche of mud and snow.

The measure, informed Minister David Oddó, will remain in force until the outcome of the inspections aimed at ensuring the resumption of operations in safe conditions.

El Teniente, operated by state copper giant Codelco, is Chile's largest underground mine and the third largest in terms of volume produced. With over an estimated 4,500 km of tunnels dug into the slopes of the Andean peak from which it takes its name, it has a long history of fatal accidents since exploitation began in 1905.

The most recent dates back to last year, when six workers died in the collapse of one of the tunnels, while the deadliest dates back to 1945, when smoke from a fire originating in one of the access openings killed 355 of the over one thousand workers who were inside the mine.

The accident occurs in the context of a persistent contraction in Codelco's production due to both adverse climatic conditions and interruptions due to accidents. The state giant recorded an average decline of 8.1% in August across all its mines, with El Teniente alone recording a -20.1%.