Anglo American has suspended production at its Grosvenor coal mine in Queensland, Australia, following an underground coal gas ignition incident on 29 June.
The miner said all employees were safely evacuated without injury, but it is still working on safely extinguishing the fire. ABC News reported that authorities are racing to seal at least six of the mine shafts, along with the main drift and conveyor belt.
Anglo American CEO Dan van der Westhuizen has reassured the community its exclusion zone will contain any fallout in the event of an explosion similar to one that occurred in May 2020 at Grosvenor. He said the exclusion zone has been established on technical advice from the independent Australian Coal Industry Research Program.
Grosvenor is located 5 kilometres north of the township of Moranbah.
Sources: Anglo American and ABC News