man and woman killed in NSW outback

Two people have died in an underground mine explosion in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), the first such incident since 2015.

Emergency services were called to the Endeavor mine in Cobar, about 700 km (435 miles) northwest of Sydney, in the early hours of Tuesday after reports of two people who were critically injured.

Police said a man in his 60s was pronounced dead at the scene and two women, both in their 20s, were pulled to the surface, but one later died. The second woman was airlifted to hospital with minor injuries and shock.

Polymetals Resources, which bought the Endeavor mine in 2023, said all operations at the site were temporarily suspended.

The company’s executive chairman, Dave Sproul, said he was “shocked and saddened by the tragic incident” and “our deepest thoughts and condolences go out to the employee’s families, friends and colleagues.”

Deaths from mine explosions are rare in Australia, with the last fatality occurring in 2015 at a mine in Queensland.

Cobber Mayor Jarrod Marsden said it was an “absolutely tragic” situation.

“The most valuable thing that comes out of a mine is the miners, and two families can no longer see their loved ones,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

“Cobar is a small mining community, it’s very close-knit and I’m sure everyone will be thinking of their families today.”

A medical examiner’s report will be prepared and an incident investigation will be conducted by the state workplace safety authority.

According to the Endeavor mine’s website, it operated continuously from 1982 to 2020, and the new owners were in the process of restarting mining operations to produce silver, zinc and lead this year.

The mine includes a 7 km (4.3 mi) incline and a 300 m shaft, the website said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns offered his condolences to the family, 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 been “significantly improved in mining”, Means said, but the two deaths are “a sobering reminder why we must always remain vigilant to protect workers”.