KARACHI, Jul 31: A devastating methane gas explosion at a coal mine in Pakistan’s Balochistan province has claimed the lives of at least 34 miners, exposing persistent concerns over safety standards in the country’s mining sector. Rescue teams continue to search the damaged site after several workers were trapped deep underground following the blast.
The explosion occurred on Thursday at the Sorange coalfield near Quetta during a shift change. The force of the blast not only ripped through the primary mine but also affected a neighbouring mine, leaving more than 50 workers trapped beneath the surface.
Officials said the miners were working nearly 4,000 feet underground when methane gas ignited, causing a powerful explosion and subsequent fire. The incident triggered tunnel collapses that buried workers under debris, making rescue operations extremely challenging.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), emergency responders have recovered 34 bodies while successfully rescuing 22 workers from the affected mines. Search efforts are continuing for those who remain missing.
Chief Inspector of Mines Muhammad Atif explained that 22 workers were trapped in the mine where the explosion originated, while others became stranded after the adjoining mine suffered damage from the blast.
Representatives of the All Pakistan Coal Miners Association attributed the tragedy to a dangerous buildup of methane gas. Association leader Pir Muhammad Kakar said such explosions occurring at great depths leave little chance of survival because tunnel entrances and escape routes are often destroyed.
Kakar also highlighted longstanding concerns about safety compliance, alleging that many privately operated mines fail to implement mandatory safety protocols. He added that numerous workers, including migrants from other Pakistani provinces and neighbouring Afghanistan, are employed without proper registration or adequate workplace protection.
Balochistan’s Minister for Mines and Minerals, Shoaib Nosherwani, said rescue personnel were operating under hazardous conditions while attempting to reach those still trapped. He assured that the provincial administration would continue deploying every available resource until the operation is completed.
The provincial government has announced financial assistance of PKR 500,000 for the families of each deceased miner and PKR 300,000 for injured workers. Authorities have also ordered a detailed investigation into the explosion to determine its exact cause and identify possible lapses in mining operations.
Following the disaster, the Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation called on the government to strictly enforce mining regulations and take legal action against companies that neglect worker safety requirements.
Fatal mining accidents remain a recurring challenge in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, where many coal mines operate with inadequate ventilation systems, poor gas detection mechanisms and limited emergency infrastructure. Labour organisations have repeatedly warned that weak enforcement of safety standards continues to place thousands of miners at risk.
For many families in the economically underdeveloped province, coal mining remains one of the few available sources of income despite the dangerous working conditions, making stronger safety oversight a long-standing demand from workers’ groups.