An investigation is underway after a worker died and a second was rescued when a trench collapsed during construction work for a wind farm in the US state of Washington.

The man was buried during cabling work for the Skookumchuck project near Olympia, southwest of Seattle, said local police. A second worker was rescued and taken to hospital after the incident on 9 January.

The 136MW Skookumchuck project is being completed by developer RES, which sold the wind farm to Southern Power late last year.

RES said in a statement sent to Recharge: “We have commenced a thorough investigation to understand what happened and its cause.

“We are deeply saddened by the death of the construction worker and extend our condolences to his family and we hope for a speedy recovery of our injured colleague.”

Southern Power said: “Our deepest sympathies go out to everyone and their families who have been impacted by the devastating event.”

Skookumchuck is due online in the first quarter of the year using Vestas turbines.