Pakistan mine blast kills 34 workers, rescue continues

A devastating explosion, suspected to be caused by methane gas, ripped through a coal mine in Pakistan's southern Balochistan province, killing at least 34 workers. The blast occurred Thursday near Quetta, the provincial capital, triggering a massive overnight rescue operation that continued into Friday.

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

Provincial disaster management authorities confirmed that 34 bodies had been recovered. The statement noted that the joint rescue operation was still underway to find any remaining trapped miners, though the exact number of those inside the mine when the explosion occurred remains unclear. Adding to the tragedy, witnesses reported that other miners rushed into the collapsed mine to attempt a rescue, but they too perished in the aftermath.

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

Rescuers and distraught relatives gathered at the mine entrance in Sorange, a town about 50 kilometers east of Quetta. Workers, some in hard hats and others in casual attire, carried the soot-covered bodies of the deceased on stretchers to waiting ambulances. The incident highlights the persistent safety concerns plaguing Pakistan's mining sector. Labor rights groups have repeatedly called for improved safety standards and stricter enforcement, especially in Balochistan, a province rich in coal, gold, and copper but lagging in development and employment.

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