Chilean rescue workers have recovered the body of the last of five miners trapped within the world’s largest underground copper mine following a seismic event on Thursday.
Regional prosecutor Aquiles Cubillos confirmed the announcement, stating that a criminal investigation into the incident at the El Teniente mine, operated by state-owned Codelco, is now underway.
The remains of the other four miners were located on Saturday and earlier on Sunday amid an intensive search through collapsed mine tunnels, situated approximately 70km (43 miles) southeast of Santiago.
The total confirmed death toll stands at six, including one individual who perished at the time of the initial incident on Thursday.
The tunnel collapses were triggered by a 4.2 magnitude tremor on Thursday, impacting miners working at significant depths below the surface.
Codelco has identified two of the deceased as Paulo Marín and Gonzalo Núñez Caroca, noting that the identities of the remaining victims are pending confirmation “by the relevant authorities.”
“We share the anguish this situation causes their families and the entire community,” the copper mining company stated in a release.
Rescue teams employed heavy machinery in an effort to clear blocked passageways and reach the trapped miners.
Codelco reported that rescue teams had cleared 24m (78.7ft) of obstructed passages within the mine.
El Teniente is situated high in the Andes mountains in central Chile.
Authorities have indicated that an investigation is underway to determine whether the seismic event was a consequence of mining activity or natural tectonic forces.
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