Pakistan coal mine blast near Quetta kills 32 as rescuers search for trapped miners

A methane blast in a coal mine near Quetta killed 32 miners and trapped 10 others. The disaster has intensified scrutiny of safety lapses in Baluchistan's hazardous coal industry.

In Short

• Officials believe a methane build-up triggered the deadly underground explosion
• Zero oxygen levels after the blast are hampering the hazardous rescue effort
• Families waited outside as authorities began handing over recovered bodies for burial

At least 32 miners were killed and 10 others were trapped underground after an explosion inside a coal mine in southwest Pakistan on Thursday, with rescuers racing to reach them in what officials said were life-threatening conditions. Authorities said the blast was believed to have been caused by a build-up of methane gas.

The explosion took place on the outskirts of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province. Officials said the death toll was likely to rise as rescue teams continued to search for the remaining miners, with conditions inside the mine making the operation difficult.

Government mine inspector Ghani Baloch said seven bodies were recovered in the hours after the blast, and emergency responders later found 25 more. A statement from the provincial disaster management agency said the search and rescue operation was continuing, with teams working to locate and recover the miners still trapped underground. Baloch said rescue efforts would continue until all those trapped were found. “The chances of finding anyone alive diminish after methane gas explosions because oxygen levels drop to zero, and rescuers are also proceeding cautiously inside the mine,” he said.

Baloch said authorities were handing over the bodies to their families for burial, while relatives of those still trapped waited anxiously for news. Baluchistan Minister for Mines and Minerals Shoaib Nosherwani said rescue teams were working under extremely difficult conditions. He expressed condolences to the families of the victims and said the provincial government would pay compensation of 500,000 Pakistani rupees, or about USD 1,800, to the family of each miner killed in the blast. He also said authorities would carry out a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion and review mine safety measures.

A coal miners’ labour union said it suspected negligence had led to the explosion and called for action against those responsible. In a statement, the Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation urged the government to strictly enforce safety regulations and take strong action against companies that violate mine safety laws. Deadly accidents are common in Pakistan’s coal mining industry, especially in Baluchistan, where many mines lack proper ventilation, gas monitoring systems and other basic safety measures. Even so, thousands of workers in the province continue to depend on the coal industry for their livelihoods despite the risks and low wages.

With PTI Inputs

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