Two people have been killed by an explosion at the Endeavour mine in western New South Wales, devastating the local community of Cobar.
Police said emergency services had been called to the mine on Endeavour Mine Road at Cobar, about 600km north-west of Sydney, at about 3.45am on Tuesday.
Officers were told that a man, believed to be in his 60s, had been confirmed dead after the underground explosion.
Two women were brought to the surface, but one, a woman in her 20s, later died.
The second woman, also in her 20s, was airlifted to hospital suffering hearing damage and shock. The NSW health minister, Ryan Park, said the woman was in a stable condition at Orange hospital.
While they were yet to be formally identified, police said all three workers lived in Cobar.
The NSW resources regulator, which is responsible for compliance and enforcement across the state’s mining sector, confirmed it was investigating.
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It said it would be inappropriate to make further comment while the investigation was ongoing.
The Cobar shire council mayor, Jarrod Marsden, said the tight-knit community had been devastated by the news.
“We’re smashed, I don’t know what other word to use, to be honest,” he told Guardian Australia. “It’s still pretty raw and fresh.”
The mayor said the blast had affected the entire town.
“These are people that worked together every day, these are the people you saw down the street, the people you see in the pub,” Marsden said.
“It’s tragic. These are two families – their lives will be impacted for ever.”
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, extended his condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the workers who died.
“This is a heartbreaking day for the Cobar community and will be felt across the entire mining industry,” he said.
“We understand investigations are still under way. The number one priority in any mine must be safety. Everyone who goes to work has the right to come home.”
Minns said safety protocols and procedures had “greatly improved” in mining but the two deaths were “a sobering reminder of why we need to always remain vigilant to protect workers”.
The state minister for natural resources, Courtney Houssos, said she was “deeply saddened to hear about the tragic news at Cobar”.
Park, who comes from a coal mining town, said “these things are horrific”.
“They have an incredible impact not only on the family but also on the entire community.
“We will ensure, at appropriate times, that the community is kept informed. This is a very sad day for the people of western New South Wales and a sad day for the people of our country.”
He added that “despite all regulation and safety improvements”, mining remained a “risky and dangerous occupation”.
A NSW Mine Workers’ Alliance spokesperson, Tony Callinan, called on the mine operator and regulator to undertake an open investigation.
“The alliance is in shock this morning with news of these fatalities,” he said.
“We will leave no stone unturned in identifying what has occurred here. This is a tragic reminder that underground mining is a dangerous job.”
Copper and gold mining are the two leading employment industries in the Cobar region.
The mine is a major underground silver, zinc and lead mine, 40km north of Cobar. It was acquired by Polymetals in 2024. It is the second-largest project in the polymetallic region known as the Cobar basin.
The Polymetals executive chairman, Dave Sproule, said the company was “shocked and saddened by the tragic incident at Endeavour”.
“Our deepest thoughts and condolences go out to the [employees’] families, friends and colleagues.
“We will continue to support all our people, family and friends as we navigate through this difficult time.”
Polymetals confirmed its Endeavour operations had been temporarily suspended.
Trading of the ASX-listed company was suspended on Tuesday morning pending an announcement by Polymetals.
