“One worker was safely recovered yesterday, while specialist teams worked through the night to stabilise the site and access the second individual.
“Tragically, that worker could not be saved.”
He said the miner’s death was a tragedy and an investigation would be launched into the incident.
“This is a devastating time for Queensland’s mining communities,” he said.
“My heartfelt condolences go out to the families, friends and colleagues of both workers.
“These are tragic reminders of the risks faced by those who work in our resources sector.”
A Mammoth Underground spokesman said on Saturday that emergency response teams remained on the scene and were working in co-ordination with relevant authorities, to undertake rescue and response activities on site.
“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.
Perrett confirmed another miner was killed in a separate incident at a small-scale gold mine outside Nebo.
“Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances,” he 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.
Police confirmed emergency services were called at 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.”
Workplace support has also been made available to all Mammoth personnel who may have been affected by the incident.
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.
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