Disasters & Incidents
Pakistan coal mine blast kills at least 34, agency says
A coal mine blast in southern Pakistan killed at least 34 workers, Balochistan's provincial disaster management authority said Friday, as rescuers searched for more missing miners.
The explosion, suspected to have been caused by methane gas, tore through the mine near Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, on Thursday. The mine is in Sorange, around 50 kilometres from Quetta.
“According to information received from the deployed teams, 34... bodies have been recovered,” the provincial disaster management authority said early Friday. “The joint rescue operation is still underway to locate and recover the remaining trapped miners,” it added.
The agency did not say how many people were in the mine when the explosion happened.
Ahmed Zada, a mine worker at the site, said some miners went down into the mine after the explosion to try to rescue workers inside, but also died.
Relatives, rescuers and miners gathered at the mine entrance as rescue work continued. Rescuers and workers carried bodies out of the tunnel on stretchers to waiting vehicles and ambulances.
Mining accidents are common in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, and labour rights groups have previously called for stronger safety standards and enforcement in the sector. Balochistan is Pakistan's largest province by land area and is rich in resources including coal, gold and copper, but lags behind the rest of the country in several development measures.
Update
The explosion was suspected to be caused by methane gas, rather than confirmed as caused by methane gas.
The mine was identified as being in Sorange, around 50 kilometres from Quetta.
A mine worker said some miners who went down after the blast to help with rescue efforts also died.
The item adds scene details about relatives, rescuers and miners gathered at the mine entrance.
Source note: AFP news report published on 31 July 2026 at 05:08:05 UTC.
Update
The explosion was caused by methane gas, according to the supplied account.
The blast happened on Thursday near the capital of Balochistan province.
The rescue operation continued into the night.
The disaster agency did not specify how many workers were in the mine when the explosion happened.
Mining accidents are common in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan.
Source note: AFP news report published on 31 July 2026 at 03:43:22 UTC.
Update
The provincial disaster agency said the dead were workers.
Balochistan's provincial disaster management authority said 34 bodies had been recovered.
Rescuers were searching for more missing miners.
Source note: AFP news report published on 31 July 2026 at 03:25:24 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The number of miners inside the mine when the blast happened was not specified.
The cause of the explosion was described as suspected methane gas, not confirmed.
Source
AFP news report published on .