Quetta, July 31, 2026: At least 32 miners were killed after a methane gas explosion triggered the collapse of two coal mines in the Sorange coalfield near Quetta, while rescue teams continued efforts on Friday to recover the remaining two trapped workers.
The explosion occurred on Thursday at a private coal mine in the Sorange coalfield, around 30 kilometres northeast of Quetta. The blast ignited a fire inside the mine, causing extensive structural collapse and affecting a neighbouring mine.
Chief Inspector of Mines Balochistan Muhammad Atif said 34 miners were underground when the explosion took place.
“So far, 32 bodies have been recovered from both mines,” he said, adding that rescue teams were continuing operations in the main mine to retrieve the remaining two miners.
According to officials, 24 miners were working about 4,000 feet underground in the first mine when the explosion occurred. The fire that followed caused sections of the mine to collapse, while the impact of the blast was heard across the Sorange area.
The explosion also severely damaged a nearby mine where 12 miners were working at the time.
Rescue workers and mining engineers established alternative access routes to reach the affected sites. However, large concentrations of methane gas, intense heat from the fire and unstable underground conditions significantly hampered rescue efforts.
Balochistan Minister for Mines and Minerals Mir Shoaib Nosherwani announced financial assistance of Rs500,000 for the family of each deceased miner and Rs300,000 for every injured worker. He also ordered an inquiry into the incident to determine its causes and identify any negligence.
The tragedy is the latest in a series of mining accidents in Balochistan. In June, three people were injured after explosives accidentally detonated during mining operations in Khanuzai, while three coal miners lost their lives in a separate mine accident in Bolan in April.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed profound grief over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the bereaved families.
In separate statements, both leaders directed the relevant authorities to expedite rescue operations, ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured and provide all necessary assistance to the affected families.
They also stressed the urgent need for strict enforcement of mine safety regulations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
President Zardari said the contribution of workers to Pakistan’s development was invaluable and emphasised that ensuring their safety was a shared responsibility of the state.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and other concerned departments to continue rescue efforts until all affected workers had been recovered and provided with the necessary relief. He described the country’s workers as a valuable national asset and called for permanent measures to improve safety standards in coal mines.
