Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI
Tuesday, 5 August 2025
BioBio Chile
Santiago de Chile (Agenzia Fides) – “We join in the days of national mourning for the tragic deaths of Paulo, Gonzalo, Jean, Álex, Carlos, and Moisés in prayer and the celebration of Masses,” said Cardinal Fernando Garib Chomali, Archbishop of Santiago de Chile, expressing his condolences for the workers who died in the “El Teniente” mine. “It is a shame that people die in the very place where they seek their livelihood. Work should be a source of dignity and human development, not death,” he said.According to Chilean press reports, no one survived the collapse on Thursday, July 31, in the world’s largest copper mine. The accident occurred in a tunnel of the “Andesita” project following a 4.2 magnitude earthquake, presumably caused by mining activities.The “El Teniente” mine, operated by the Chilean state-owned copper company Codelco, has 4,500 kilometers of tunnels and is the largest underground copper deposit in the world. Last year, the mine produced 356,000 tons of copper, equivalent to almost 7 percent of Chile’s total production.The country has experienced serious mining disasters in the past, including the 1945 “El Teniente” mine disaster, which killed 355 miners, and the collapse of the San José mine in 2010, which trapped 33 workers for 69 days.”May they rest in peace. It is moving to see an entire country demonstrate its faith and hope. We encourage the rescuers and thank God for their selflessness,” the Archbishop concluded. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 5/8/2025)
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