A methane gas explosion tore through a coal mine in Sorange, near Quetta, on Thursday, killing two miners and trapping more than two dozen others underground, officials said.
According to Chief Inspector of Mines Abdul Ghani Baloch, the explosion occurred at the Sardar Usman Lease mine during working hours after methane gas accumulated inside the shaft, triggering a powerful blast that caused part of the mine to collapse.
He said 25 miners were trapped following the explosion, while three workers were successfully rescued by emergency teams.
A joint rescue operation involving the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the Balochistan Mine Rescue Department and other agencies was continuing late into the day.
Abdul Ghani Baloch warned that there were fears the death toll could rise as rescuers worked under difficult conditions to reach those still trapped.
Provincial Mines and Mineral Development Minister Mir Shoaib Nosherwani confirmed that the bodies of two miners had been recovered and said efforts to rescue the remaining workers were ongoing.
Coal mining remains one of Pakistan’s most hazardous occupations, with methane gas explosions and mine collapses frequently claiming lives, particularly in Balochistan, where safety standards have long been a concern.