Mines begin to reopen in Chile after heavy rains

Chile's Codelco, the world's No 1 copper producer, said on Thursday it is gradually reopening mines in the north of the country that were closed on Wednesday due to heavy rains, but that its Salvador mine remained shuttered. Conditions at Salvador did not yet permit safe operation, and 17 workers were stranded at the site, but had access to shelter, food and communications, Codelco said in a statement.