Pakistan coal mine explosion kills 34 workers, rescue operation underway

An explosion deep within a coal mine in Pakistan’s Balochistan province has killed at least 34 workers, officials said, after a blast ripped through the shaft more than a kilometre below ground. Rescue teams worked through the night, locating most of the victims but still searching for two missing miners, while authorities began assessing damage to the two adjacent mines that were affected by the incident.

Investigators identified a sudden release of methane gas as the cause of the powerful explosion, a hazard that is common in underground mining operations. Balochistan, the country’s poorest region, is rich in mineral resources, and mining accidents have long been a recurring problem there. The latest tragedy underscores the ongoing safety challenges faced by workers in the province’s extractive industries.