Two divers die at salmon farming sites in Chile within five days.
Two fatal workplace accidents involving professional divers occurred at salmon farming centres in southern Chile over the course of five days, according to local media reports and company statements.
The first incident took place on Monday, 21 July, at the “Canalad” site operated by Australis Seafoods in the Aysén Region. The second occurred on Thursday, 25 July, at the Bahía León site, operated by Blumar in the Skyring Sound, Magallanes Region. Both divers were performing routine maintenance tasks at the time of the incidents, according to La Prensa Austral.
In both cases, the divers were employees of Servicios Marítimos Trapén, a third-party contractor that provides diving services to salmon farming companies including AquaChile, Salmones Austral, Australis Seafoods, and Blumar. The Chilean Maritime Prosecutor’s Office is leading the investigations into both deaths.
Australis Seafoods issued a public statement expressing regret and confirmed that it is cooperating fully with authorities. Blumar also released a statement acknowledging the death of Yonathan Vergara, a diver with approximately 15 years of experience. The company said that emergency protocols were activated, including the deployment of rescue personnel and reanimation efforts, but that these were ultimately unsuccessful.
However, local media have reported that emergency evacuation procedures may not have been followed in full during the second incident. The Public Prosecutor’s Office has requested that the investigation be carried out by the Maritime Authority, with assistance from the Legal Medical Service and Labour Directorate, which has already notified Blumar of the initiation of a workplace safety investigation.
In a statement, Chile’s Professional Divers Association called for improved safety standards and greater recognition of the risks involved in the sector.
