At least 34 killed in coal mine explosion in Pakistan

At least 34 workers were killed in a coal mine explosion in southern Pakistan, according to the local Disaster Management Authority, which announced the news on Friday.

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

The provincial Disaster Management Authority said early 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.