A man and a woman have passed away following a tragic explosion early this morning at an underground mine near Cobar, in western New South Wales.
Emergency service crews rushed to the site on Endeavor Mine Road — approximately 450 kilometres east of Broken Hill — after receiving reports at around 3:45am that two individuals had been critically injured in a workplace incident.
Authorities from the Central North Police District confirmed that when officers arrived at the mine, they were informed a man had died at the scene following an underground blast.
Two women were subsequently rescued from underground; one succumbed to her injuries shortly after being brought to the surface, while the other was airlifted to hospital for treatment for hearing loss and shock.
Emergency services remain on site as investigations into the incident continue.
The mine, located just outside the town of Cobar, plays a central role in the local economy.
According to information from the operator, Polymetals Resources, the Endeavor Mine had previously operated continuously for nearly four decades before recent efforts to fully resume operations focused on silver, zinc, and lead production.
The deaths have cast a shadow over the Cobar community, known for its tight-knit mining population.
Local Mayor Jarrod Marsden described the accident as “absolutely tragic”.
“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,” he said, adding that the whole community is grieving alongside the victims’ families today.
NSW Premier Chris Minns and Natural Resources Minister Courtney Houssos both expressed their deep condolences in a joint statement on Tuesday, noting the heartbreak the incident has caused both locally and across the broader mining sector.
He reiterated that while safety practices and protocols in mining have improved significantly over the years, incidents like this underscore the constant need for vigilance to keep workers safe.
Police have confirmed they will prepare a report for the Coroner as they work alongside the New South Wales Resources Regulator and SafeWork NSW to determine the precise circumstances leading up to the accident.
The site remains under police control as investigations get underway.
