For the first time since 2015, an underground explosion occurred at a mine in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, killing two people.
Emergency services were called to the Endeavor mine in Cobar, about 700 kilometers (435 miles) northwest of Sydney, in the early hours of Tuesday after reports that two people had been seriously injured.
Police said that a man in his 60s was confirmed dead at the scene, and two women in their 20s rose to the surface, but one died later. A second woman was taken to hospital with minor injuries and shock.
Polymetals Resources, which purchased the Endeavor mine in 2023, said all operations at the site were temporarily suspended.
It was not revealed what caused the explosion. “We are shocked and saddened by this tragic incident,” company Chairman Dave Sproule said. “We extend our deepest thoughts and condolences to the employee’s family, friends and colleagues.”
Fatalities from landmine explosions are rare in Australia, with the most recent death occurring at a mine in Queensland in 2015, according to Safe Work Australia.
Cobar Mayor Jared Marsden called the situation “absolutely tragic.”
“The most precious thing that comes out of the mine is the miners, and two families who can no longer see their loved ones,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
“Cobar is a small mining community with a very tight-knit community and I am sure everyone will be thinking of their families today.”
A report will be prepared for the coroner and an investigation into the incident will be conducted by the state workplace safety authority.
According to the Endeavor Mine website, the mine has been in continuous operation from 1982 to 2020, and new owners were in the process of restarting mining activities for silver, zinc and lead metal production this year.
The mine includes 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) of slope and 300 meters of shaft, the site said.
NSW Premier Chris Minns expressed condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the workers who died.
“This is a heartbreaking day for the Cobar community and will be felt throughout the mining industry,” he said.
Safety protocols and procedures have “improved significantly in mining,” Minns said. But the two deaths are “a sobering reminder of why we must always be vigilant to protect our workers,” he said.
