34 Dead in Pakistan Coal Mine Blast in Balochistan

34 Dead in Pakistan Coal Mine Blast in Balochistan
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A methane gas explosion at a coal mine near Quetta in Pakistan’s Balochistan province has killed at least 34 miners, with rescue teams continuing efforts to reach two workers still trapped underground, according to Reuters.

Reuters reported that the blast struck a coal mine complex in Sorange, near Quetta, on Thursday. The explosion affected two closely situated mines and buried part of the complex. Rescue teams have been working at a depth of about 1,219 metres to recover the remaining trapped miners.

The number of miners believed to have been underground has changed as rescue operations progressed. Earlier reports said dozens of workers were trapped, but authorities later said most of those in the affected section had been accounted for. The latest reports put the death toll at 34, with two miners still missing.

The cause of the explosion is believed to be a buildup of methane gas, although authorities are continuing to investigate the incident. Pakistan’s coal-mining sector, particularly in Balochistan, has a long record of deadly accidents linked to inadequate safety measures, poor ventilation and limited gas-monitoring systems.

The disaster comes as Pakistan is also facing a worsening security situation in other parts of the country. On July 29, militants attacked a police post in Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing at least five police officers and injuring about two dozen others, according to the Associated Press. Four attackers were killed in the ensuing gun battle.