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An explosion, believed to have been triggered by methane gas, ripped through a coal mine in southern Pakistan's Balochistan province on Thursday, killing at least 34 workers. Rescuers worked through the night and into Friday morning searching for additional miners who may still be trapped in the facility near Sorange, approximately 50 kilometers from the provincial capital, Quetta.

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According to information received from the deployed teams, 34... bodies have been recovered.

The provincial disaster management authority confirmed the recovery of 34 bodies in the early hours of Friday. The joint rescue operation is ongoing, though officials have not specified the total number of miners present when the blast occurred. Some miners in the vicinity reportedly rushed into the mine to attempt a rescue after hearing the explosion, but they too became victims.

Relatives, fellow miners, and rescue workers gathered at the mine entrance, a concrete tunnel, as the grim task of carrying out the bodies continued. Many were covered in black soot, and stretchers were used to transport them to waiting ambulances. The incident has reignited calls for improved safety standards and enforcement within Pakistan's mining industry.

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The joint rescue operation is still underway to locate and recover the remaining trapped miners.

Balochistan, Pakistan's largest and poorest province, is abundant in natural resources like coal, gold, and copper. However, it significantly lags behind the rest of the country in development indices, including education, employment, and economic progress. Mining accidents are a recurring tragedy in the region, highlighting the persistent dangers faced by its workforce.

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Other miners descended into the mine after the explosion for a rescue operation, but they also died.