A coal mine blast killed at least 34 workers in southern Pakistan, the provincial disaster agency said on Friday, as rescuers searched for more missing miners.
The explosion tore through the mine near Quetta, the capital of resource-rich Balochistan province, on Thursday.
What caused the coal mine blast in Balochistan?
The explosion is suspected to have been caused by methane gas, a highly flammable substance that occurs naturally in coal seams. It struck the mine on Thursday, sparking a rescue operation that ran through the night and into Friday morning. Officials have not yet confirmed the cause.
How many miners are still missing after the blast?
Officials have not said how many workers remain unaccounted for. "According to information received from the deployed teams, 34 bodies have been recovered," Balochistan's provincial disaster management authority said in a statement issued in the early hours of Friday.
It added that a joint rescue operation was still underway to locate and recover the remaining trapped miners, without specifying how many were inside the mine when the explosion occurred.
Did other miners die trying to rescue their colleagues?
Witnesses said that after hearing the blast, an unknown number of miners in the area rushed to try to reach workers trapped inside. "Other miners descended into the mine after the explosion for a rescue operation, but they also died," Ahmed Zada, a mine worker at the site, told AFP.
Relatives, rescuers and miners gathered at the mine entrance in Sorange, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Quetta, as the operation continued. Rescuers and workers, some in hard hats and others in everyday attire, carried bodies covered in black soot out of the concrete tunnel and ferried them on stretchers to waiting ambulances.
Why are mining accidents common in Balochistan?
Mining accidents are common in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, and labor rights groups have repeatedly called for stronger safety standards and enforcement in the sector.
Balochistan is Pakistan's poorest province and its largest by landmass, lagging behind the rest of the country in nearly every index, including education, employment and economic development. The province is rich in resources, including coal as well as more lucrative gold and copper reserves.
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