Balochistan mine blast kills 34 as methane explosion traps more workers

Karachi,UPDATED: Jul 31, 2026 12:38 IST

At least 34 miners were killed and more than a dozen others remained trapped after a methane gas explosion in a coalfield in Pakistan's Balochistan province, authorities said on Friday. Rescue teams had recovered 34 bodies and brought out 22 workers alive till Friday morning.

The explosion took place on Thursday during a shift change at the Sorange coalfield near Quetta. The blast hit one coal mine and also damaged a neighbouring mine, trapping more than 50 workers about 4,000 feet underground.

Miners were caught in the explosion and the fire that followed. The blast also caused structural collapses, killing several workers on the spot and leaving others trapped under burning debris. According to Chief Inspector of Mines Muhammad Atif, 22 workers were initially trapped in the mine where the explosion took place, while the remaining workers were trapped in the neighbouring mine.

Pir Muhammad Kakar of the All Pakistan Coal Miners Association said a deadly build-up of methane gas triggered the underground explosion during Thursday's shift change. "When such explosions happen so deep underground, the chance of survival is low because they usually damage the entrance and exit points," Kakar said. He also said that in many cases private mine owners do not follow the required safety procedures and do not properly register workers, many of whom come from other provinces and Afghanistan to earn their livelihood.

Balochistan's Minister for Mines and Minerals Shoaib Nosherwani said rescue teams were working in extremely difficult conditions and that the provincial government would make every effort in the ongoing operation. He said the government would provide PKR 500,000 to the family of each miner killed in the incident and PKR 300,000 to each injured worker. On Thursday, he had said authorities would carry out a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion and review mining safety measures to help prevent similar accidents.

In a statement, the Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation urged the government to strictly enforce safety regulations and take tough action against companies that violate mine safety laws. Deadly accidents are common in Pakistan's coal mining industry, especially in Balochistan, where many mines lack proper ventilation, gas monitoring systems and other basic safety measures, even as thousands of workers continue to depend on the sector for their livelihood.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends