In brief
An underground explosion at Endeavor Mine in Cobar, New South Wales has resulted in the death of two people, a man in his 60s and a woman in her 20s. Emergency services responded early Tuesday to reports of critically injured workers. A full investigation is underway as the community mourns this significant loss.
Two people have been killed after an underground explosion at a mine in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW).
Emergency services were called to the Endeavor mine at Cobar, about 700km (435 miles) northwest of Sydney, in the early hours of Tuesday after reports that two people had been critically injured.
Police said a man, in his 60s, was confirmed dead at the scene and two women, both in their 20s, were brought to the surface, but one later died. The second woman was airlifted to hospital for minor injuries including hearing damage and shock.
A report will be prepared for the coroner and an investigation into the incident will be carried out by the state's workplace safety authority.
Cobar Mayor Jarrod Marsden described the incident as absolutely tragic, emphasizing, 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.
According to the Endeavor mine's website, the mine had been operating continuously from 1982 to 2020. It was bought by Polymetals Resources in 2023, which was in the process of restarting mining activities for silver, zinc, and lead production this year.
NSW Premier Chris Minns extended his condolences, calling it a heartbreaking day for the Cobar community and stressing the importance of safety vigilance in the mining sector.
