2010 Copiapó mining accident San Jose Mine were around 20% higher than at other Chilean mines due to its poor safety record. The collapse occurred at 14:00 CLT on 5 August 2010. Access to the depths of the mine was by a long helical roadway. A group nearer the entrance escaped, but a second group of 33 men were trapped deep inside. A thick dust cloud caused by the rock fall blinded the miners for as much as six hours. Initially, the trapped miners tried to escape through ventilation shafts, but the ladders required by safety codes were missing. Luis Urzúa, the duty shift
Beaconsfield Mine collapse the earthquake had a magnitude of 2.3 on the Richter scale, at a shallow depth at coordinates . Earlier speculation had suggested that mine blasting had caused the collapse. Three of the miners working underground at the time were trapped, and early reports suggested that 14 miners who were underground at the time had managed to scramble to safety. The mining company, Beaconsfield Mine Joint Venture, released a press statement saying they held "grave concerns for the three miners' wellbeing". Larry Knight (44), Brant Webb (37) and Todd Russell (34) were the three miners who remained unaccounted for. Knight had