At least 32 miners have died after a methane gas explosion triggered a fire and mine collapse at the Sorange coalfield near Quetta in Pakistan, according to a report by Dawn citing an official. Rescue teams recovered 32 bodies overnight from two affected coal mines, while search operations are continuing for two more miners who remain trapped underground.
Pakistan Coal Mine Explosion Triggers Fire and Collapse
The explosion occurred on Thursday at a private coal mine in the Sorange coalfield, located around 30 kilometres northeast of Quetta. The methane gas blast caused a fire inside the mine and led to parts of the structure collapsing.
The explosion also severely affected another nearby coal mine, where several miners were working at the time. The blast was reportedly heard across a wide area of Sorange.
32 Bodies Recovered, Two Miners Still Missing
According to Dawn, Chief Inspector of Mines Balochistan Muhammad Atif said 34 miners were inside the two mines when the explosion occurred.
“So far, 32 bodies have been recovered from both mines,”
Atif said rescue operations were continuing at the mine where the explosion took place to locate and recover the remaining two miners.
Officials had earlier said that 24 miners were working approximately 4,000 feet underground in the first mine when the explosion occurred on Thursday afternoon. A fire broke out shortly after the blast, followed by the collapse of sections of the mine.
Methane Gas and Fire Hamper Rescue Operation
Rescue efforts have faced significant challenges because of large quantities of methane gas and the fire inside the affected mines. Mining engineers and workers created alternative routes to reach the affected areas and access the trapped miners and recovered bodies.
However, the hazardous conditions deep underground have made the rescue operation difficult. Teams are continuing their efforts to locate the two miners who remain missing.
Second Mine Also Severely Affected
The blast at the main mine also affected a second nearby mine. Dawn reported that 12 miners were working inside the second mine when the explosion occurred.
The impact across both sites brought the total number of miners inside the two mines at the time of the incident to 34, according to the Balochistan Chief Inspector of Mines.
Recent Mining Accidents in Balochistan
The latest incident comes after other mining-related accidents in Balochistan in recent months.
In June, three people were injured after explosive material used in mining accidentally detonated in the Khanuzai area of Quetta division. Earlier in April, three coal miners were killed in a separate mine accident in Bolan.
Rescue Teams Continue Search for Two Miners
Rescue teams remain engaged in the search for the two miners still unaccounted for following the methane gas explosion. The presence of fire and methane gas continues to pose major obstacles as teams work deep underground in the affected mine.
Source: Dawn, as cited by ANI
