Cobar mine explosion kills two in Australia’s first major mine fatality since 2015 as Polymetals halts trading for two days

Australia mine explosion: Two mine workers have been killed and another injured after a powerful explosion ripped through the recently reopened Endeavor silver, zinc, and lead mine near Cobar, New South Wales, on Tuesday, October 28. This is also a rare mine death incident in Australia; as per BBC the last reported mine-related death in Australia was in 2015.

Emergency crews rushed to the remote outback town, located about 700 km (435 miles) northwest of Sydney, after reports of people in a workplace incident, according to RNZ. Police said a man in his 60s and a woman in her 20s died in the blast, while another woman in her 20s was airlifted to a hospital suffering from hearing damage and shock. 10 News Sydney reported that one of the victims died underground, while the second succumbed to her injuries after being brought to the surface.

Polymetals on Tuesday requested a two-day trading halt on its shares. However, the company did not specify what caused the explosion, and the victims have not yet been formally identified.


The BBC quoted the company's executive chairman, Dave Sproule, as saying it was "shocked and saddened by the tragic incident" and "our deepest thoughts and condolences go out to the employee's families, friends, and colleagues."

Polymetals opened the mine this year

Mining operations at the Endeavor Mine, which has been in operation since 1982, were halted in 2020 for maintenance before being purchased by Polymetals Resources in 2023. The company resumed production earlier this year but has now suspended operations pending investigation into the deadly explosion.