QUETTA:
Twelve coal miners were reported dead on Thursday after a gas explosion at a coal mine in Balochistan, officials said.
A local rescue team began searching for workers at the private mine in Singidi, Balochistan, before being joined by two teams from Quetta.
“An accumulation of methane caused the explosion,” said Abdullah Shawani, head of the province’s mining department.
“Twelve workers were inside a private mine when the entire mine collapsed following an explosion,” added Abdul Ghani Baloch, a senior official of the department.
He said rescue teams were slowed down because they were unable to find the mine entrance.
Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind, confirming the incident, highlighted the continuing dangers faced by miners, saying: “Hazardous working conditions in coal mines continue to cost precious human lives every day “. He further highlighted the challenges rescuers face due to the unstable structure of the collapsed mine.
Despite the difficulties, Rind assured the public that “all efforts are being made to rescue the stranded miners.” However, he admitted that the risk to rescuers remains significant and that to date there is no update on the fate of the 12 miners.
The spokesperson called for immediate attention to safety measures at coal mines, saying: “It is high time to prioritize safety to avoid such tragedies in the future.” Rescue teams, supported by local authorities, are continuing their operations in the hope of a positive outcome.
Pakistan’s mines are notorious for dangerous working conditions and poor safety standards, and fatal incidents are not uncommon.
Twelve miners were killed in a gas explosion at the same mine in June last year.
With additional contribution from AFP
