Major rescue underway after workers trapped in Curragh Mine collapse
Mine rescue teams are racing to reach at least one worker who is trapped after a devastating incident at a Central Queensland coal mine.
A major rescue operation continues to locate a trapped miner about 1km underground after a roof caved in at a Central Queensland coal mine on Friday.
Emergency services rushed to Mammoth Underground Mine at the Curragh Complex near Blackwater about 3pm on Friday and safely recovered two workers, but one remains missing.
The coal mine is operated by Coronado Global Resources in the Bowen Basin about 830km north of Brisbane.
A Mammoth Underground spokesman said emergency response teams remained on the scene and were working in co-ordination with relevant authorities, to undertake rescue and response activities on site.
Coronado Global Resources Curragh coal mine in Queensland. Picture: Supplied by Coronado Global Resources.
“Mammoth Underground Coal Management Pty Ltd, as the coal mine operator, is providing its full co-operation and mining operations have been suspended until further notice,” a spokesman said.
The Courier Mail reported two deaths have occurred at the site’s open cut mine in the past five years.
Clark Peadon, 54, was crushed by a dragline in November 2021 and Donald Rabbit, 33, was crushed by a five-tonne tyre during a change exercise in January 2020.
Another worker was also injured by a falling grader blade in October last year.
Donald Rabbitt, 33 and Clark Peadon, 54, were both killed at Curragh mine in January 2020 and November 2021 respectively.
Police confirmed emergency services were called about 3pm following reports of an industrial accident at a mine off Cooroorah Road in Blackwater.
“Initial information indicates one man was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and one other man remains unaccounted for,” a Queensland Police spokesman said.
Mine safety watchdog Resources Health and Safety Queensland said it was “made aware of an incident involving a roof collapse” at the mine, the Courier-Mail reported.
“RSHQ, along with emergency services and mines rescue, is responding to the incident,” an RSHQ spokesman said.
“Our current focus is on supporting efforts to recover a worker involved in the incident.”
Location of Curragh coal mine. QLD. Source Google
Workplace support has also been made available to all Mammoth personnel who may have been affected by the incident.
Acting Mines Minister Tony Perrett said two workers had been “recovered safely”, while work was continuing to rescue a third worker.
“My thoughts are with all of those involved, their loved ones, the entire mining community,” he said.
The mine is located about 14km north of Blackwater in the Bowen Basin in Central Queensland – one of the world’s largest coal basins and Australia’s largest source of metallurgical coal.
The mine is operated by Coronado.
The company’s website says Curragh has been operating since 1983 and was acquired by Coronado in 2018.
Two open cut mines – Curragh South and Curragh North – are currently active.
