Emergency crews are in a race against time to rescue a coal miner who has been trapped deep underground for more than 27 hours following a serious incident at a Central Queensland mine.
Roof Collapse Triggers Major Emergency
Rescue teams were called to the Curragh coal mine, located off Blackwater Cooroorah Road, shortly after 3pm on January 2. The emergency was triggered by a significant roof collapse within the underground section of the operation.
Two workers were successfully extracted from the site following the cave-in. One of those miners received treatment for injuries that were not life-threatening directly at the scene, as confirmed by the state’s Acting Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Tony Perrett.
Intensive Search for Missing Worker Continues
However, a third worker remains unaccounted for, sparking a complex and dangerous rescue mission. Specialist teams are meticulously combing through debris to locate and free the trapped miner, who is situated approximately one kilometre below the surface.
A spokesperson for the mine's operator, which is contracted by owner Coronado Global Resources, stated that support is being offered to all staff affected by the traumatic event. "My thoughts are with all of those involved, their loved ones, the entire mining community," Minister Perrett said.
Mine's Operations and Safety History
In response to the incident, all mining operations at the underground site have been suspended. The open-cut sections of the Curragh mine continue to operate normally.
Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) has confirmed it is on-site, with its primary focus being to support the recovery effort for the missing worker.
This incident brings renewed scrutiny to the mine's safety record. In October 2025, Coronado was fined $80,000 plus court costs over the death of a worker, Clark Peadon, at Curragh in 2021. Another worker, Donald Rabbitt, was killed at the mine in 2020, though all charges related to his death were later dropped.
The Curragh coal mine is a major operation situated north of Blackwater, roughly 200 kilometres west of Rockhampton. The site spans an area of about 256 square kilometres across two separate mines and has been operational since 1983. Coronado Global Resources has owned the mine since purchasing it in 2018.
