Mine Explosion in Australian Outback Kills Two Workers

Two people have been killed following an underground explosion at the Endeavor mine in Cobar, a remote mining town in western New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

Emergency services responded in the early hours of Tuesday after reports that multiple workers were injured. Police confirmed that a man in his 60s died at the scene, while two women in their 20s were rescued from underground — one of whom later succumbed to her injuries. The surviving woman was airlifted to hospital with minor injuries including hearing damage and shock.

Authorities said a report would be prepared for the coroner, and an investigation is underway by the state’s workplace safety authority.

Cobar Mayor Jarrod Marsden described the tragedy as “absolutely heartbreaking,” noting the town’s close-knit mining community. “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 told ABC.

The Endeavor mine, operating since 1982, was acquired by Polymetals Resources in 2023 and was in the process of restarting production of silver, zinc, and lead this year.

NSW Premier Chris Minns expressed condolences to the victims’ families, saying, “This is a heartbreaking day for the Cobar community and will be felt across the entire mining industry.”

Minns also emphasized the importance of continued vigilance in workplace safety, calling the deaths a “sobering reminder” of the risks miners face despite improved safety protocols.