Explosion at Coal Mine in Balochistan Leaves 12 Miners Presumed Dead
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Islamabad, Jan 10 (NationPress) Reports indicate that all 12 miners are presumed dead after a coal mine in Pakistan's Balochistan province collapsed as a result of a gas explosion, according to local media on Friday.
Balochistan's Chief Inspector of Mines, Abdul Ghani Baloch, informed the press that the explosion, which took place on Thursday, was triggered by methane gas while the miners were engaged in coal extraction within the mine located in the Sanjidi area of Quetta, the provincial capital.
As rescue efforts continue with teams of mining engineers and other personnel working to clear the debris, Pakistan's prominent daily, Dawn, reported that four bodies of the miners were retrieved on Friday afternoon during the operation.
Rescue teams have noted that the mine was entirely engulfed after the gas explosion, obstructing all exit routes and complicating the rescue efforts.
The Express Tribune indicated that all 12 miners are thought to have lost their lives in this tragic incident.
According to Abdul Ghani Baloch, a senior official from the province's mining department, "Twelve workers were inside a private mine when the entire structure collapsed following an explosion. The rescue efforts were hampered as teams struggled to locate the mine's entrance."
Mining accidents are frequent in Pakistan, primarily due to the lack of health and safety standards in mines, which is attributed to irregular inspections, as highlighted in a recent report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.
Last year, a similar incident resulted in the deaths of twelve laborers and injuries to eight others in a coal mine in the same region.
The explosion occurred in March 2024 due to the accumulation of toxic gas within the cave in Harnai district, Balochistan.
Laborers were present inside the mine when the explosion occurred, and eight additional individuals who attempted to rescue their trapped colleagues also became trapped when the mine completely collapsed.
