A missing worker has been found dead after a roof collapse deep underground at the Curragh coal mine in central Queensland. The man became trapped when the collapse occurred at about 3pm on Friday, with fears he was as deep as 1km underground.
Emergency responders located the deceased worker on Saturday night, according to acting mines minister Tony Perrett. One worker was safely recovered on Friday, while specialist teams worked through the night to stabilise the site and access the second individual.
The Curragh mine, north of Blackwater and about 200km west of Rockhampton, has been in operation since 1983 and covers about 256 square kilometres across two separate mines. It has been owned by Coronado Global Resources since 2018.
Coronado's chief executive Douglas Thompson expressed deep sadness and extended sympathies to the family and colleagues. The company is supporting contracted mine operator Mammoth Underground Mine Management, which is working with authorities to determine the cause of the collapse. All underground mining operations have been suspended.
In a separate incident, about 300km north of Curragh, a 58-year-old gold prospector died after being hit by falling rocks at a private mine site at Mount Britton. He was working alone with an excavator when a rock face partially collapsed on Friday afternoon, causing fatal leg injuries.
Perrett described both incidents as tragic reminders of the risks faced by those in the resources sector, and said full investigations would be conducted to ensure answers and lessons learned.
