Three of five trapped workers at Codelco's El Teniente copper mine have been found dead, the company said, as rescue teams work to clear underground passages that collapsed in a strong tremor last week.

A strong tremor at Codelco's El Teniente copper mine has resulted in the deaths of four workers. Rescuers have found three deceased individuals after initially discovering another one. Efforts to clear the blocked passages continue as investigations are underway to determine the cause of the collapse.

Rescuers have recovered the bodies of four miners and are searching for two more after an earthquake caused a partial collapse at El Teniente mine last week.