This is an incomplete list of mining accidents in Chile that are known to have resulted in the entrapment or death of persons. Illegal mining is greatly overrepresented relative to legal mining in deadly accidents in Chile.
20th century June 19, 1945: 1945 El Teniente mining accident, in O'Higgins Region. 355 men died in the underground copper mine of El Teniente, largely because of a nearby fire whose smoke trapped the workers in tunnels and resulted in carbon monoxide poisoning. Another 747 men were injured by the smoke.Emol, June 20, 2005, "La Tragedia del Humo": A 60 años del peor accidente minero en Chile (in Spanish) February 19, 1964: 1964 Andacollo mining accident, in Coquimbo Region. Seven pirquineros were trapped as result of a cave-in at a gallery of an improvised small-scale gold mine, located in the vicinity of the town of Andacollo. March 28, 1965: El Cobre dam failure in Valparaíso Region. As result of the 1965 La Ligua earthquake about 60 to 70 farmhouses and cottages were swept away by the cascading debris flow that emerged from the rupture of one of El Soldado mine's tailings dam. The official death toll is 247, but is thought to be as high as 350–400.
21st century + List of mining accidents in Chile involving deaths or entrapment since 2000 Date Deaths (trapped) Mine/mining district Cause of death Illegal mining Commune Reference January 20, 2006 2 (70) San José Rockfall No Copiapó August 5, 2010 0 (33) San José No Copiapó January 10, 2011 2 El Indio mine/El Indio Gold Belt Rockfall Yes Vicuña September 4, 2020 1 Cavilolen Rockfall Yes Illapel September 19, 2020 2 Tambo de Oro Rockfall No Punitaqui June 24, 2021 2 Panulcillo Rainfall-induced collapse No Ovalle December 18, 2024 2 La Fe Carbon monoxide poisoning Yes Hijuelas Minera irregular en Hijuelas se denunció un mes antes de la muerte por intoxicación de dos trabajadores en faena La Fe February 28, 2025 3 Jesús María mine Rockfall Yes Copiapó July 31, 2025 6 El Teniente Rockburst-induced collapse No Machalí Quiénes eran los seis mineros fallecidos en El Teniente que Chile llora
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