A powerful methane gas explosion ripped through a coal mine in Balochistan’s Sorange near Quetta on Thursday, killing two and trapping more than two dozen workers underground, of which three were rescued, authorities said.
Chief Inspector Mines Abdul Ghani Baloch said the blast occurred at the Sardar Usman Lease during working hours after methane gas accumulated inside the mine, triggering an explosion that trapped 25 miners working underground.
He also said three miners had been rescued from the collapsed mine by the joint rescue team, comprising the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the Balochistan Mine Rescue Department, as well as other departments.
Read more: Toxic gas in Balochistan mine kills three
The chief inspector cited fears of further casualties as the operation continued amid challenges.
Provincial Mines and Mineral Development Minister Mir Shoaib Nosherwani told The Express Tribune that the bodies of two miners had been retrieved from the site and an operation was underway to rescue the trapped miners.
The minister said that on the directives of Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, the chief inspector of mines and PDMA officials reached the site “soon after the incident”.
Nosherwani said that all relevant departments were engaged in a joint rescue operation, adding that work to remove debris and improve exhaust access was progressing rapidly to reach the trapped miners.
He also asserted that the Balochistan government was continuously monitoring the rescue operation and all available resources were being utilised.
“Every possible assistance would be provided to the families of the affected workers,” he confirmed, adding that necessary instructions had been issued to the relevant authorities.
Also read: Safety measures stressed in mines
Nosherwani also vowed to strengthen safety measures in the mining sector.
As rescue efforts continued late into the night, anxious family members remained gathered outside the mine, awaiting news of their loved ones.
The latest accident is the third fatal coal mine incident reported in Balochistan this year, underscoring persistent concerns over mine safety despite repeated government assurances.
In March, two Afghan miners suffocated after toxic methane gas accumulated inside a coal mine in the Chamalang area of Duki district. Police said the workers lost consciousness within moments after the mine filled with poisonous gas, while safety experts blamed the absence of proper ventilation and gas detection systems.
A month later, in April, three miners died after a sudden release of methane and other toxic gases inside a private coal lease in the Degari area near Quetta. The incident renewed criticism over hazardous working conditions and inadequate safety measures in the province’s mining sector.
In June, two miners were killed when a coal mine caved in during excavation work in Harnai district’s Khost area. Labour unions described the collapse as “institutional negligence” and accused authorities of failing to enforce even basic workplace safety standards, alleging miners continued to work without proper protective equipment or emergency response mechanisms.
