At least 34 killed in Pakistan coal mine blast as rescue operations continue

Summary

Subscribed with another email? Logout and Login with that one. Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription Updated - July 31, 2026 07:46 pm IST - Karachi People wait as rescue workers prepare to start a search operation after an explosion inside a coal mine on the outskirts of Quetta, in southwest Pakistan, on July 31, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP At least 34 miners were killed and over a dozen remained trapped following a methane gas explosion in a coalfield in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, authorities said on Friday (July 31, 2026). The incident occurred on Thursday (July 30, 2026) in the Sorange coalfield near Quetta when a methane gas explosion struck a coal mine during a shift change, also damaging a neighbouring mine and trapping over 50 workers. A coal miner grieves for his brother, who was among those trapped after an explosion buried parts of a coal mining complex on the outskirts of Quetta, Pakistan, on July 30, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters About 4,000 feet underground, miners were caught in the explosion and the subsequent fire. The blast triggered structural collapses, killing several workers instantly and leaving others trapped beneath the burning debris. Rescue teams have recovered 34 bodies and rescued 22 of the trapped workers until this morning, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said. According to Chief Inspector of Mines Muhammad Atif, initially 22 workers were trapped inside the mine where the explosion took place, while the remaining workers were trapped in the neighbouring mine. Pir Muhammad Kakar of the All Pakistan Coal Miners Association confirmed the disaster, stating that a lethal accumulation of methane gas triggered the underground explosion during Thursday’s shift change. “When such explosions happen so deep underground, the chance of survival is low because they usually damage the entrance and exit points,” Mr.