At least 34 miners have lost their lives after a methane gas explosion tore through a coal mine in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, with rescue workers continuing efforts to locate several others believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.
The explosion occurred on Thursday at a mine located near Quetta, the capital of the mineral-rich southwestern province, triggering an emergency response involving disaster officials and rescue personnel.
Recovery operations continued through the night as emergency teams worked to reach affected sections of the mine in search of survivors and recover victims.
The Balochistan Provincial Disaster Management Authority, in a statement issued early Friday, confirmed that 34 bodies had so far been recovered from the scene.
“According to information received from the deployed teams, 34 dead bodies have been recovered,” the agency said.
Officials said preliminary findings indicate that a buildup of methane gas inside the mine triggered the deadly blast, although investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident.
Search teams remain at the site amid fears that more miners could still be trapped underground, with authorities racing against time to complete the rescue operation.
The latest accident has renewed concerns over occupational safety in Pakistan’s mining industry, where workers frequently face hazardous conditions and fatal accidents linked to poor ventilation, gas accumulation and inadequate safety measures.
