Pakistan coal mine blast kills 34 workers

At least 34 workers have been killed following a methane gas explosion at a coal mine in Pakistan’s southern Balochistan province, according to the provincial disaster management authority.

In a statement issued early Friday, the Balochistan Provincial Disaster Management Authority confirmed that 34 bodies had been recovered from the site.

The explosion occurred on Thursday at a coal mine near Quetta, the capital of the resource-rich province, triggering a large-scale rescue operation that continued into the night.

“According to information received from the deployed teams, 34 dead bodies have been recovered,” the agency said.

It added that rescue teams were still searching for other miners believed to be trapped underground, although authorities did not disclose how many workers were inside the mine when the explosion occurred.

Rescue operation continues

The agency said a joint rescue operation remained underway to locate and recover any remaining miners trapped after the blast.

Officials said the explosion was caused by a build-up of methane gas inside the mine, a common hazard in underground coal mining operations.

Mining accidents are frequent in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, where poor safety standards and hazardous working conditions have contributed to repeated tragedies.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by land area and one of its most resource-rich regions, remains the country’s poorest province. It continues to lag behind other parts of Pakistan in education, employment, infrastructure and overall economic development.