Gas Explosion at Quetta Coal Mine Leaves Four Dead, Eight Trapped; Rescue Efforts Continue

A gas explosion at a coal mine in  Pakistan, Quetta’s Sanjdi area has claimed the lives of four miners, with efforts still underway to rescue eight workers trapped underground. The explosion, which occurred on Thursday at approximately 4:00 pm local time, led to a collapse in a section of the mine, trapping a total of 12 miners.

Rescue operations have been ongoing for more than 27 hours, with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirming the recovery of three additional bodies, bringing the total death toll to four. The trapped miners are believed to be located about 4,300 feet underground, while the bodies retrieved so far were found 3,000 feet deep.

The operation has been complicated by the presence of gas in the mine and difficult weather conditions. Local miners have joined the PDMA teams in the rescue efforts as they work to create an alternative route to reach the remaining trapped workers.

This incident follows a similar tragedy in March 2024, when 18 miners were trapped in a coal mine in Harnai, Balochistan, where 12 bodies were recovered, and six miners were rescued in injured conditions.