A powerful methane gas explosion ripped through a coal mine in Sorange, Balochistan, near Quetta on Thursday, killing two people and trapping more than two dozen workers underground, three of whom were rescued, authorities said.
Chief Inspector of Mines Abdul Ghani Baloch said the explosion occurred at the Sardar Usman concession during working hours after methane gas accumulated inside the mine, triggering an explosion that trapped 25 miners working underground.
He also said that three miners were rescued from the collapsed mine by the joint rescue team, comprising the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Balochistan Mine Rescue Department, along with other departments.
Learn more: Toxic gas in Balochistan mine kills three
The chief inspector reported fears of further casualties as the operation continued despite difficulties.
Provincial Minister for Mines and Mineral Development Mir Shoaib Nosherwani said The Express PK Press Club that the bodies of two miners had been recovered from the site and an operation was underway to rescue the trapped miners.
The minister said that on the directives of Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, the Chief Inspector of Mines and PDMA officials reached the site “soon after the incident”.
Nosherwani said all relevant departments were engaged in a joint rescue operation, adding that work to clear debris and improve access to exhaust was progressing rapidly to reach the trapped miners.
He also asserted that the Balochistan government was continuously monitoring the rescue operation and all available resources were being used.
“All possible assistance will be provided to the families of the workers concerned,” he confirmed, adding that the necessary instructions had been given to the relevant authorities.
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Nosherwani also pledged to strengthen security measures in the mining sector.
As rescue operations continued late into the night, anxious family members remained gathered outside the mine, waiting for news of their loved ones.
The latest accident is the third fatal coal mine incident reported in Balochistan this year, underscoring continued concerns over mine safety despite repeated assurances from the government.
In March, two Afghan miners suffocated to death after toxic methane accumulated in a coal mine in the Chamalang area of Duki district. Police said workers lost consciousness moments after the mine filled with toxic gas, while safety experts blamed the lack of proper ventilation and gas detection systems.
A month later, in April, three miners died following a sudden release of methane and other toxic gases at a private coal concession in the Degari area near Quetta. The incident renewed criticism of unsafe working conditions and inadequate safety measures in the province’s mining sector.
In June, two miners were killed when a coal mine collapsed during excavation work in the Khost area of Harnai district. Unions called the collapse “institutional negligence” and accused authorities of failing to enforce even the most basic workplace safety standards, alleging that miners continued to work without proper protective equipment or emergency response mechanisms.
