[REVISION HISTORY]

Surge in fatal mining accidents in Chile

Updated 6 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-17 01:11 UTC → 2026-10-27 13:57 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Chilean mining sector is facing a critical safety crisis following a surge in fatalities, with at least 13 deaths reported in 2026. Recent incidents include a 61-year-old bulldozer operator falling 50 meters at the Rajo Aguilucho ~~mine and~~ mine, two workers killed by an avalanche at the El Teniente ~~division.~~ division, and a 66-year-old worker dying after falling into a crushing machine at the Nueva California processing plant in Illapel. On October 6, 46-year-old Nelson Torres Parra, a specialist operator for contractor IMOPAC, was found dead near a drilling rig at the Los Colorados mine in Vallenar; authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. Concerns regarding national safety oversight are mounting. Sernageomin reported a significant resource gap, noting it has only nine inspectors to oversee approximately 1,700 facilities in the Antofagasta region. ~~Furthermore, proposed budget cuts for 2027 targeting the Dirección del Trabajo and the Superintendencia de Seguridad Social may further limit the state’s capacity to enforce safety standards.~~ While the National Policy for Safety and Health in Mining was approved in July 2025, it remains stalled pending a ruling from the Comptroller ~~General. This delay prevents~~ General, preventing full compliance with ILO Convention ~~176, which Chile ratified in June 2024.~~ 176. In response to ~~the rising death toll,~~ seven fatalities occurring in a single month, the Ministry of Mining has convened a ‘Mining Safety ~~Table’ and~~ Table’. Sernageomin has relaunched its ‘21 Golden Rules of Mining’ campaign and launched an intensive work agenda in the O’Higgins region. This regional initiative includes unscheduled inspections, preventive shutdowns, and the activation of the Regional Mining Safety Committee (CORESEMIN). Additionally, an announced budget increase for Sernageomin is intended to ~~reinforce safety protocols.~~ enhance inspections and strengthen territorial deployment to reach a goal of zero fatalities.

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