A blast at a coal mine killed at least 34 workers in southern Pakistan on Friday, provincial disaster officials said, with rescuers searching for additional missing miners as the operation continued.
The explosion, caused by methane gas, tore through the mine near the capital of the resource rich province of Balochistan on Thursday, sparking a rescue operation that continued into the night.
Provincial disaster management authorities said rescue teams were still working to account for miners who may remain trapped underground, with the death toll expected to be confirmed further as the operation progresses.
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Methane gas explosions remain a recurring hazard in Pakistan’s coal mining sector, where safety standards and enforcement have long been criticised by labour rights groups and international observers.
The Balochistan provincial government is expected to launch an investigation into the cause of the blast and the mine’s compliance with existing safety regulations following the conclusion of rescue operations.
The disaster adds to a pattern of fatal mining accidents in Pakistan’s coal sector, with labour advocates renewing calls for stronger safety oversight of the country’s often informally regulated mining operations.
