1945 El Teniente mining accident

A total of 355 men died, largely because of a nearby fire whose smoke trapped the workers in tunnels and resulted in carbon monoxide poisoning.

[1] Although the external fire was brought under control by that evening, rescue workers could not enter the tunnels until noon the next day.

The government declared three days of mourning, and businesses and schools closed in response to the national tragedy.

As there was no cemetery at Sewell, the company town on the mountain, all of the miners' bodies were taken to Rancagua in the valley for burial.

In addition, their Congress passed legislation to reduce the independence of the company, and the Work Accident Law to support worker safety.

El Teniente made such improvements to its operation that the mine won the international security award for 14 consecutive years.