Pakistan: At least 34 dead in coal mine explosion

At least 34 workers were killed in a coal mine explosion in southern Pakistan, according to the local disaster management agency on Friday.

The methane gas explosion on Thursday caused extensive damage to the mine located near the capital of Balochistan, a mineral-rich province, prompting the launch of a rescue operation.

The provincial disaster management authority said at dawn on Friday, “According to information received from rescue teams deployed at the site, 34 bodies have been recovered.”

The authority added that the joint rescue operation is still ongoing to locate and recover any trapped miners, without specifying the number of workers present at the site when the explosion occurred.

Accidents are common in Pakistan’s mines, particularly in Balochistan, the country’s poorest and largest province by area.

Balochistan lags behind the rest of Pakistan in several indicators, including education, employment, and economic development.