A worker buried under soil and rock after a wall collapse at a mine in the Northern Territory has died with a full investigation launched into the incident.
The 59-year-old was working at the Bootu Creek manganese mine about 110 kilometres north of Tennant Creek at the time of the collapse on Saturday afternoon.
The operators, Singapore-based OM Holdings, confirmed his death on Monday but said his identity would not be released until approval had been obtained from his family.
“To all his family, friends and work colleagues, OM Ltd extends its sincerest condolences,” the company said in a statement.
Superintendent Christopher Board described the wall failure as “substantial” with the site’s instability delaying excavation efforts to rescue the man.
All operations at the site were halted but the company advised the stock exchange on Monday that some had since re-started.
It said all employees were being offered counselling and it was cooperating fully with police workplace safety authorities who were conducting a full investigation.
Primary Industry and Resources Minister Paul Kirby described the accident as an “absolute tragedy” and said his thoughts were with all the workers at the site and the families involved.
“Territorians have the right to go to work and return safely to their families,” he said.
OM Holdings exported the mine’s first shipment of ore in 2006.
Around 140 workers lost their jobs in December 2015 when the mine was mothballed and placed into the hands of administrators.
It returned to full production in 2018.
-AAP
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