Death toll rises to at least 34 after blast at coal mine near Quetta

QUETTA: An explosion buried parts of a mining complex and killed at least 34 miners in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Thursday, a Pakistani official said.

A rescue operation is still underway to find and recover the remaining two trapped miners, said Muhammad Fahad, director of operations for the Provincial Disaster Management Authority.

Shoaib Nosherwani, Balochistan’s minister for mines and mineral development, earlier told Reuters that 36 people were in the collapsed part of the complex at the time of the explosion.

Coal mine complex blast kills 11, dozens missing

Rescue efforts were under way at a depth of 4,000 feet (1,219 meters), said Muhammad Atif, the chief inspector of mines in the province. Abdul Ghani Baloch, a senior government mining official in the region, said:

“Two mines close to each other were damaged in a powerful methane gas explosion.”

The explosion occurred in Sorange, a remote area near the provincial capital Quetta.

President Zardari, PM Shehbaz grieve loss of lives

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday expressed grief and sorrow over the tragic coal mine accident caused by a gas build-up in the Sorarange area, on the outskirts of Quetta.

In separate statements, both leaders extended their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, praying for the elevated ranks of the deceased and patience for their loved ones.

Expressing grave concern for the affected workers, President Zardari directed authorities to ensure swift access to all miners trapped inside the pit and called for provision of the best available medical treatment to those injured.

Addressing the chronic dangers faced by mineworkers, President Zardari emphasized the strict enforcement of safety regulations across all coal mines to prevent future tragedies. He reaffirmed that the nation’s workforce plays a invaluable role in building Pakistan, making the protection of their lives and property a collective responsibility of the state.

PM Shehbaz ordered the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and relevant agencies to execute relief efforts with maximum efficiency. He stressed that rescue operations must continue uninterrupted until every worker is accounted for and assisted.

PM Shehbaz described the labor class as a national asset and called for permanent safety mechanisms to guarantee secure working conditions inside coal mines.