QUETA:
Twelve coal miners are feared dead after a gas explosion at a coal mine in Balochistan on Thursday, officials said.
A local rescue team began searching for the workers at the private Singidi mine in Balochistan before being joined by two teams from Quetta.
“The explosion was caused by a buildup of methane gas,” said Abdullah Shawani, head of the province’s mining department.
“Twelve workers were inside a private mine when the entire mine collapsed following an explosion,” added Abdul Ghani Baloch, a senior official at the department.
He said rescue teams were delayed because they could not find the entrance to the mine.
Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed the incident and highlighted the persistent dangers faced by miners, stating: “Dangerous working conditions in coal mines continue to claim precious human lives on a daily basis.” Furthermore, he emphasized the challenges faced by rescuers due to the unstable structure of the collapsed mine.
Despite the difficulties, Rind assured the public that “every effort is being made to rescue the trapped miners.” However, he admitted that the risk to rescuers remains significant and so far there are no updates on the fate of the 12 miners.
The spokesperson called for immediate attention to safety measures in coal mining, saying: “It is time to prioritize safety to avoid tragedies of this type in the future.” Rescue teams, supported by local authorities, continue their operations in the hope of a successful outcome.
Pakistan’s mines are known to have dangerous working conditions and poor safety standards, and fatal incidents are not uncommon.
Twelve miners died in a gas explosion at the same mine in June last year.
With additional information from AFP
