Two dead in rare underground explosion at Australian mine

Two people have died following an underground explosion at a mine in New South Wales (NSW), marking Australia’s first fatal mining incident of this kind since 2015.

Emergency services were dispatched to the Endeavor mine near Cobar, located about 700 kilometres (435 miles) northwest of Sydney, in the early hours of October 28 after receiving reports that two people had sustained critical injuries, as per the BBC.

Police confirmed that a man in his 60s was pronounced dead at the scene. Two women, both in their 20s, were brought to the surface; one later succumbed to her injuries, while the other was airlifted to the hospital suffering from minor injuries and shock.

Polymetals Resources, which acquired the Endeavor mine in 2023, announced that all operations at the site have been suspended pending further investigation. The company did not disclose the cause of the explosion.

Executive Chairman Dave Sproule said Polymetals was “shocked and saddened by the tragic incident,” offering “deepest thoughts and condolences” to the victims’ families, friends, and colleagues.

Mining explosions are extremely rare in Australia, with the last recorded fatal incident occurring in Queensland in 2015.

Cobar Mayor Jarrod Marsden described the event as “absolutely tragic,” telling the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), “The most valuable thing to come out of a mine are the miners, and two families don’t get to see their loved ones anymore. Cobar is a small, tight-knit mining community, and I’m sure everyone will be thinking of the families today.”

Authorities said a report would be prepared for the coroner, and the state’s workplace safety regulator has launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion.

According to the Endeavor mine’s website, the site operated continuously from 1982 until 2020. The new owners had been in the process of restarting production this year, focusing on silver, zinc, and lead. The facility features a 7-kilometer (4.3-mile) decline and a 300-meter shaft.

NSW Premier Chris Minns expressed his condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the workers who died, calling it “a heartbreaking day for the Cobar community that will be felt across the entire mining industry.”

Minns added that although mining safety standards have “greatly improved,” the deaths serve as “a sobering reminder of why we must always remain vigilant to protect workers.”

By Tamilla Hasanova