RismadarVoice Reporters, July 31, 2026
At least 34 miners have been confirmed dead following a methane gas explosion at a coal mine in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan Province, authorities said on Friday.
According to the provincial disaster management agency, the blast occurred on Thursday at a coal mine near the provincial capital, triggering a massive rescue operation that continued through the night.
In a statement issued early Friday, the Balochistan Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed that rescue teams had recovered 34 bodies from the site.
“According to information received from the deployed teams, 34 dead bodies have been recovered,” the agency said, adding that emergency responders were still searching for other miners believed to be trapped underground.
Authorities did not immediately disclose the total number of workers inside the mine at the time of the explosion.
The blast was reportedly caused by a buildup of methane gas, a common hazard in underground coal mining.
Mining accidents are frequent in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, where outdated safety measures, poor ventilation and weak regulatory enforcement have contributed to repeated fatalities.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by land area, remains the country’s least developed region, facing persistent challenges including poverty, unemployment and limited infrastructure despite its vast natural resources.
Rescue operations were still ongoing as officials worked to determine the full extent of the disaster.
