The death toll from a methane gas explosion at a coal mine in Pakistan’s Balochistan province has risen to 34, with rescue teams continuing efforts to reach miners still trapped underground….reports Asian Lite News Desk
The death toll from a methane gas explosion at a coal mine in Pakistan’s Balochistan province has risen to 34, while rescue workers continue efforts to recover the remaining miners trapped beneath the debris, according to local media reports citing the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
The explosion occurred on Thursday at a coal mine in the Sorange area near Quetta after methane gas accumulated underground. The blast caused a large section of the mine to collapse, trapping dozens of workers beneath the rubble.
Authorities said 41 miners were inside the mine when the explosion occurred. By Friday, rescue teams had recovered the bodies of 34 miners, while operations involving the mines department, rescue services and district administration remained underway to locate the remaining workers.
Chief Inspector of Mines Muhammad Atif told Dawn that the explosion was believed to have been caused by the accumulation of methane gas at a depth of about 4,000 feet. The ignition of the gas reportedly triggered a fire and led to the build-up of hazardous gases inside the mine, complicating rescue efforts.
He said methane gas has been responsible for the majority of coal mine explosions in Balochistan, where mining remains one of the province’s most hazardous industries.
The latest accident has once again drawn attention to safety standards in Pakistan’s mining sector, particularly in Balochistan, where fatal accidents are reported regularly due to inadequate ventilation, poor enforcement of safety regulations and hazardous working conditions.
Mining accidents have continued to claim lives in Pakistan despite repeated calls for stricter oversight and improved safety measures.
In May, two miners were killed and another injured in separate incidents in the Shangla district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
In the first incident, two workers were buried under debris while carrying out operations at the Akhorwal coal mines. Rescue teams, fellow miners and local residents conducted a rescue operation lasting nearly two and a half hours before recovering the trapped workers, according to The Express Tribune.
In another incident in the Chaparmashti area, a miner died while working inside a coal mine.
The repeated fatalities have prompted local residents and labour organisations to raise concerns over the lack of adequate safety measures across Pakistan’s coal mines. They have urged the government and relevant authorities to strengthen safety regulations, improve inspections and ensure mining companies comply with established standards to prevent further loss of life.
Rescue operations at the Sorange mine were continuing on Friday as authorities worked to recover the remaining trapped miners and assess the full extent of the disaster.
