The 2006 Copiapó mining accident occurred on January 20, 2006, when an explosion occurred in the underground Carola-Agustina copper mine in Copiapó, Chile. It was caused by two trucks colliding, and the explosion covered the only escape route for the miners inside the mine.[1][2]
The explosion caused two deaths and two injuries. Seventy miners were trapped.[1]
Shortly after the explosion occurred, workers at the nearby mine, "Punta de Cobre", began digging a tunnel towards the Carola-Agustina mine to assist in rescuing the trapped miners.[1]
Rescue efforts lasted seven hours, and the 70 trapped miners were rescued alive.