A tragic coal mine collapse in Balochistan’s Sorange area has claimed the lives of 34 miners, making it one of the deadliest mining accidents in recent years. Rescue teams continue searching for the remaining workers believed to be trapped underground as authorities race against time in difficult conditions.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), rescue personnel recovered six more bodies on Friday, increasing the death toll to 34. Emergency teams remain at the site, working tirelessly to reach the miners who are still missing beneath the collapsed mine.
The owner of the mine, Qurban Jogezai, said the disaster was caused by a methane gas explosion, which triggered the collapse. He confirmed that 42 labourers were working inside the mine when the explosion occurred. All of the trapped workers are reported to be residents of Shangla district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Following the incident, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti ordered a detailed investigation and warned that strict action would be taken if any negligence or safety violations were discovered. He also directed officials to ensure stronger enforcement of coal mine safety regulations across the province to help prevent similar disasters.
Political leaders and labour rights advocates have expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. JUI-N spokesperson Abdul Sattar Chishti said thousands of miners have lost their lives in similar accidents over the years and urged the government to introduce effective safety reforms to protect workers.
In a separate incident on the same day, another miner was killed in Harnai district after a large rock fell on him while he was working inside a coal mine. Rescue teams recovered the body and shifted it to a nearby hospital.
Coal mining accidents remain a recurring problem in Balochistan and Sindh, where inadequate safety measures, poor working conditions, and weak enforcement continue to place miners at serious risk. The latest tragedy has once again highlighted the urgent need for stronger workplace safety standards and better protection for mine workers across Pakistan.
