Two miners were trapped by falling boulders in a Ballarat mine when it collapsed, resulting in the death of one of the miners.

One miner, a 21-year-old from Ballarat, was stabilised and rescued with serious injuries, while the other, a 37-year-old man from Bruthen, was found dead.

The incident occurred approximately three kilometres underground, and concerns had been raised about the mining style.

Australian Workers Union Victoria State Secretary Ronnie Hayden said: “Our members have raised concerns about this style of mining and it seems to have fallen on deaf ears.”

The union was called to the mine after the incident, which involved the miners undertaking a manual mining activity called air legging.

“They were working on unsupported ground, trapping both miners and killing one. It’s devastating because we’ve lost another worker,” said Hayden.

Federal Minister for Resources Madeleine King cautioned against speculation on the cause, as she stated: “It’s too early to really go into any speculation about what’s happened at that mine.”

WorkSafe will investigate the incident, and police will prepare a report for the coroner.

The mine’s owner, Victory Mineral, stated that its emergency response team is working closely with authorities and that their priority is the safety and wellbeing of their workers and families.

Ballarat Mayor Des Hudson expressed the community’s shock and solidarity, saying: “We are a very resilient community. There will be great community concern and support by the local community to those that are involved.”

The mine, which operates deep beneath buildings, streets, and homes, had another incident in 2007 where 27 miners were trapped underground for several hours.

MCA CEO Tania Constable issued a statement saying: “Safety is the most important issue for our industry. This tragic event is a reminder of the need to always prioritise safety above all else. The minerals industry will continue to work hard to eliminate fatalities, injuries and occupational illnesses.”