2006 Copiapó mining accident

{{Infobox News event

|image=

|caption=

|date= January 20, 2006

|time=08:30 local time (11:30 UTC)

|place=Copiapó, Chile

|casualties1= 2 killed

|casualties2= 2 Injured

}}

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.{{Cite web

|url= http://www.cooperativa.cl/p4_noticias/site/artic/20060120/pags/20060120111455.html

|title=Accidente en mina de Atacama deja a cerca de 70 trabajadores atrapados - Cooperativa.cl

|publisher=Radio Cooperativa

|access-date=29 August 2010

|date=20 January 2006

|language=es}}

The explosion caused two deaths and two injuries. Seventy miners were trapped.{{Cite web

|url = http://www.esmas.com/noticierostelevisa/internacionales/505551.html

|title = Explosión en mina en Chile deja dos muertos

|work = EsMas.com

|access-date = 29 August 2010

|date = 20 January 2006

|language = es

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101021081715/http://www.esmas.com/noticierostelevisa/internacionales/505551.html

|archive-date = 2010-10-21

|url-status = dead

}}

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.

Rescue efforts lasted seven hours, and the 70 trapped miners were rescued alive.