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 an absolutely tragic situation, conveying his condolences to the families affected. He noted, 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 mining community, it's very tight-knit, and I'm sure everyone's going to be thinking of their families today.
The Endeavor mine had been operational from 1982 until 2020 and was recently acquired by Polymetals Resources in 2023, which was in the process of restarting silver, zinc, and lead metal production this year.
NSW Premier Chris Minns extended condolences to the families and friends of the deceased, emphasizing that while safety protocols have improved in mining, the incident serves as a haunting reminder of the need for continual vigilance to ensure worker safety.
