International

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Islamabad, July 31: The least 32 coal miners have lost their lives following a devastating explosion inside a coal mine in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, while fears remain that at least 10 more workers are still trapped underground. Rescue teams are continuing an intensive operation to reach those believed to be stranded beneath the collapsed sections of the mine as authorities race against time in extremely challenging conditions.

The government mine inspector Ghani Baloch, the explosion occurred on Thursday at a coal mine located on the outskirts of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan. Preliminary assessments indicate that the blast was most likely triggered by an accumulation of methane gas inside the mine, a hazard that has long posed a serious threat to miners working in the region.

Rescue officials said that seven bodies were recovered within the first few hours after the explosion. As search efforts progressed, emergency response teams discovered the bodies of another 25 miners, taking the confirmed death toll to at least 32. Authorities fear that at least 10 additional workers remain trapped beneath the debris, although their condition is still unknown.

Search and rescue operations are continuing without interruption as specialized teams work to clear collapsed tunnels and reach the sections where the missing miners are believed to be located. The rescue mission has been complicated by unstable underground conditions, poor visibility, and the constant risk of further cave-ins or gas leaks, making the operation both dangerous and technically demanding.

Balochistan Minister for Mines and Mineral Resources Shoaib Nosherwani said rescue personnel were carrying out their work under extremely difficult circumstances. He praised the commitment of the emergency teams, stating that every possible effort was being made to locate and rescue the trapped miners as quickly and safely as possible.

The latest tragedy has once again drawn attention to the hazardous conditions faced by coal miners in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, where mining accidents have occurred repeatedly over the years. Methane gas explosions, inadequate ventilation, and weak enforcement of safety regulations have often been cited as major causes of fatal accidents in the country's mining sector.

Authorities have not yet announced the identities of the victims, and investigations into the exact cause of the explosion are expected to begin once rescue operations are completed. Officials are also expected to examine whether all mandatory safety protocols were being followed at the mine before the incident.

As families anxiously await news of their loved ones, the focus remains on the ongoing rescue operation, with emergency teams continuing their efforts to reach the miners believed to be trapped underground. The incident stands as one of the deadliest mining disasters in Pakistan in recent years, highlighting the urgent need for stronger safety measures and improved working conditions across the country's mining industry.