A methane gas explosion tore through a coal mine in the Sorange coalfield in Balochistan, Pakistan, killing at least 15 miners and leaving more than two dozen others trapped underground, local media reported on Friday, 31 July. The blast struck a private colliery at a depth of approximately 4,000 feet, triggering a fire and a structural collapse that compounded the disaster.

What Happened Underground

According to officials, 24 miners were working deep inside the primary mine when the methane accumulation ignited. The resulting fire caused sections of the mine to cave in, cutting off escape routes. A second mine located near the blast site was also affected, with 12 additional miners trapped inside. In total, 36 coal miners were present across both mines at the time of the incident, according to Chief Inspector of Mines Muhammad Atif.

Rescue Operation Under Way

The Mines and Minerals Department and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) launched a rescue operation following the explosion. As of Thursday night, 21 miners remained missing, with teams continuing to work through hazardous conditions. Muhammad Atif confirmed that the blast was believed to have been caused by the build-up of methane gas at the 4,000-foot depth, which also led to the accumulation of other toxic gases in the mine shafts.

A Pattern of Deadly Incidents

This is not an isolated tragedy. In May, two miners were killed and one injured in two separate coal mine incidents in Shangla district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The first incident occurred at Mine No. 5 of the Akhorwal coal mines, where two workers were buried under debris during operations; they were retrieved after a rescue effort lasting nearly two and a half hours. In a separate incident the same month, a miner died while working in a colliery in the Chaparmashti area.

Safety Concerns and Calls for Action

Local residents and labour organisations have repeatedly raised alarm over the absence of adequate safety measures in Pakistan's coal mining sector. Critics argue that regulatory oversight remains weak, and that private mine operators frequently cut corners on ventilation and gas-monitoring systems. The Balochistan blast has renewed calls on the government and provincial authorities to enforce existing safety standards and conduct urgent inspections across active collieries.

What Comes Next

Rescue teams were still working to reach trapped miners as of the latest reports. The death toll is expected to rise as operations progress deeper into the collapsed shafts. Pakistan's coal mining sector, which employs hundreds of thousands of workers — many in informal, unregulated conditions — faces mounting pressure to overhaul its safety framework before the next preventable disaster occurs.