2 dead, 1 injured in mine explosion in Australia

Two people were killed and another injured in an explosion at an underground mine in southeastern Australia early Tuesday, according to local police, reported Xinhua.

Emergency services were called to the mine on Endeavour Mine Road at Cobar, about 450 km east of Broken Hill, about 3:45 a.m. after being told two people had been critically injured in a workplace incident, New South Wales police said in a statement.

Police officers arrived at the scene and were told that a man had been confirmed dead. Two women were brought to the surface, however, one has since died. The second woman was airlifted to a hospital for treatment of hearing damage and shock, the statement said.

The Endeavor Mine is a major underground silver, zinc and lead mine owned by Australian company Polymetals Resources.

Police said that it will assist the company's regulators in their investigation into the incident.