By Alex MacDonald

LONDON--Antofagasta PLC (ANTO.LN) said Friday it has suspended operations at three copper mines in the Atacama desert in northern Chile due to torrential rains.

The U.K.-listed miner said it suspended operations at the Centinela and Michilla mines and also its Antucoya mine, a project that is due to start commercial copper production in the second quarter of this year.

"The impact of the rain on the operations is currently being assessed and normal operations are expected to resume as soon as the situation improves," said Antofagasta.

Operations were suspended primarily for the safety of employees but the company noted that some processing of stockpiled material has been possible.

Write to Alex MacDonald at alex.macdonald@wsj.com

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