Two workers were killed and another injured following an underground explosion at the Endeavor Mine in Cobar, New South Wales, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, October 28, 2025. The victims have been identified as a man in his 60s and a woman in her 20s, both from the local Cobar community. A second woman in her 20s was airlifted to hospital suffering from hearing damage and shock.
Emergency services were called to the mine on Endeavor Mine Road at approximately 3:45am after reports of critically injured workers. The three victims were working the night shift at the time of the incident. According to media reports, the accident was caused by explosives at the rockface detonating prematurely. Bob Timbs, president of the local Mining and Energy Union branch, described it as a “catastrophic failure” in the explosion system, stating that in this day and age, that type of accident should not have happened.
Investigation Underway
SafeWork NSW is leading the investigation into the incident, with NSW Police preparing a report for the coroner and working alongside specialists from the NSW Resources Regulator. The NSW Mineworkers’ Alliance has called for an open and transparent investigation, emphasizing that safety must always take precedence over production.
Site Background
The Endeavor Mine is a major underground silver, zinc and lead operation located approximately 40 kilometres north of Cobar, and is the second-largest project in the Cobar Basin. The mine originally operated since 1982 but was closed for maintenance in 2020. Polymetals Resources purchased the site in 2023 and restarted mining operations earlier this year. Trading in Polymetals’ shares on the Australian Securities Exchange was halted pending an announcement from the company.
This is not the first fatal accident at Cobar mining operations – a cave-in in 1971 killed four miners, while a shaft fire in 1980 resulted in three deaths.
Industry Response
NSW Premier Chris Minns stated that while safety protocols and procedures have greatly improved in mining, these deaths are a sobering reminder of why the industry must always remain vigilant to protect workers. Premier Minns emphasized that the number one priority in any mine must be safety, and everyone who goes to work has the right to come home.
Cobar Mayor Jarrod Marsden described the tragedy’s devastating impact on the tight-knit mining community, noting that the two families affected would never be the same. Federal Industry Minister Tim Ayres paid tribute to the victims, acknowledging the distress for their families, co-workers, and the small Cobar community.
The incident serves as a critical reminder of the inherent risks in underground mining operations and the ongoing need for rigorous safety systems, particularly at sites undergoing operational transitions.
