Isaac mayor says Moranbah mine explosion has impacted entire region

Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker says the region’s thoughts are with the families and work mates of the five miners injured in a horror underground explosion at a Moranbah mine.

ISAAC Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker says the mine explosion that left five men fighting for life has hit Moranbah and the wide region hard.

Five miners were injured when an ignition of gas caused an explosion underground at Anglo American’s Grosvenor Mine near Moranbah about 3.15pm on Wednesday.

Ms Baker said with every mine accident there was an “absolute ripple effect that went through the community”.

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Isaac Regional Council mayor Anne Baker says the region's resilience and determination will be its greatest assets. Picture: Contributed.

“Our thoughts with the workers, their families, and their work mates who they have such a close bond with in an underground environment. “

“I just think it’s times like this we come together and we have a resilient community. There is an absolute ripple effect that goes through the region.

“Everyone should be able go to work and go home without fear it’s a terrible, terrible thing that has happened.”

“We are all shocked. In recent times there has been a series of accidents and deaths in the mining industry. I think every time there is an accident it just rehashes all of it.

“To be frank presents a very raw emotional reaction from the whole community.”

Ms Baker said miners deserved respect as it was the mining industry that would carry Australia out of recession.

“The coal mine workers need the respect that they earn. It’s a very hard time at the moment and I hope they recover.

“We have to take little steps, we are thinking of their families and there can be no worse feeling than when waiting for that call.

“We are a small community of just over 10,000; our hospital has less than 20 beds. They have done an outstanding job.”