A worker died this Wednesday at Aguilucho Mine, in the municipality of Taltal, Antofagasta Region, after the bulldozer he was operating plunged from the upper level of the open pit and fell approximately 50 meters.
According to CNN Chile, citing El Diario de Antofagasta and preliminary information from the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (Senapred), the victim worked as a bulldozer operator for Santa Elvira. The causes of the fall have not yet been established. The sources do not report the worker's identity.
Taltal is a coastal municipality south of the city of Antofagasta. Personnel from the Alemania police outpost of the 1st Taltal Police Station, part of the national police, arrived at the site, according to preliminary information the institution provided to La Tercera. In its account, the vehicle fell into a mine shaft.
Following the accident, operations at the site were halted. The National Geology and Mining Service (Sernageomin), which oversees safety at mining sites, expressed regret over the incident on its X account and offered condolences to the family. "A regional team is already at the site gathering information for the investigation," the service reported.
The case adds to a series of deaths in the industry. As of Tuesday, October 13, Sernageomin had recorded 12 workers killed at mining sites during 2026, meaning this death would bring the total to 13.
In less than a month, fatal accidents have been recorded at mining sites operated by Minera Escondida, Radomiro Tomic, Los Colorados, El Teniente and Nueva California. Several of them are in the same Antofagasta Region.
Lawmakers from the Antofagasta Region announced that they would seek to summon authorities from the sector to review safety and prevention measures following the latest accidents. The sources do not specify a date for that summons.
