Tasmania Police has called in specialist resources in the search for a miner missing on the West Coast.
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A man at the Henty Gold Mine, north of Queenstown, was reported missing early on Thursday morning.
Police said the worker was reported missing about 4am after his colleagues could not make communications contact with him and entered the area he was working in, about 20 minutes descent underground.
"The three men found a section of earth collapsed and were unable to locate their colleague. They went back to the surface and raised the alarm," the police spokespersons said.
The spokesperson said the search would utilise a thermal imaging drone and a robotic camera to search the area of collapsed earth.
"Officers from Tasmania Police's Bomb Response Group are preparing to head underground as close as safely possible, likely to be approximately 50 metres, from the area of collapsed earth to utilise a robotic camera," the spokesperson said.
Tasmania Police's Chief Pilot will also go underground to operate a thermal imaging drone.
The mine's Emergency Response Team will utilise the information from the drone and the camera to locate the man and develop a plan for evacuation.
Ambulance Tasmania is also part of the crew heading underground.
Premier Peter Gutwein said his thoughts were withall involved.
"At the Henty Gold mine there has been an incident, I understand a rockfall," Mr Gutwein said.
"Workers have been evacuated but one worker is still unaccounted for.
"Obviously emergency services have been involved. WorkSafe Tasmania and the Mining Inspector are also involved.
"At this moment I can't say much for than that, other than our thoughts and prayers are with the missing worker, his family and the other workers involved with the mine."
Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council chief executive Ray Mostogl said his thoughts are with the missing man and his family.
"The minerals council has within it a mutual aid agreement, where sites will make available their emergency response resources," Mr Mostogl said.
"We hope for the best and our member organisations are on standby should any of that additional support be required."
