Coal mine blast in Pakistan kills at lead 7 miners and traps 41 others

QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — An explosion inside a coal mine in southwest Pakistan killed at least seven miners Thursday and trapped 41 others underground, where rescuers were racing to reach them, an official said.

The blast occurred on the outskirts of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, government mine inspector Ghani Baloch said.

The bodies of the seven miners were recovered hours after the deadly blast, apparently triggered by a buildup of methane gas, Baloch said. Rescue workers assisted by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority and other emergency responders were continuing efforts to reach the trapped miners, he said.

Baloch did not immediately say how deep underground the miners were working. He said the rescue operation would continue until all the trapped miners were accounted for.

“The chances of finding anyone alive diminish after methane gas explosions because oxygen levels drop to zero, and rescuers are also proceeding cautiously inside the mine,” Baloch said.

Deadly accidents are common in Pakistan’s coal mining industry, particularly in Baluchistan, where many mines lack adequate ventilation, gas monitoring systems and other basic safety measures.

Mine workers and labor groups have long accused mine owners of failing to enforce safety regulations or provide adequate protective equipment.

Despite the risks and low wages, thousands of miners depend on the coal industry for their livelihoods in Baluchistan, Pakistan’s largest but least developed province, where unemployment and poverty remain widespread.