23 killed as Pakistan's two mines collapse in Balochistan province
23 killed as Pakistan's two mines collapse in Balochistan province
On Saturday, At least 23 miners were killed and several trapped after two separate coal mines collapsed in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, rescue officials said fearing the casualty toll could rise.
In the first incident, a total of 16 person were trapped after a gas explosion in Pir Ismail, Marwar (45 km from Quetta) at around noon. Their bodies were later recovered after hours-long rescue operation.
“The roof caved in following an explosion triggered by the accumulation of methane gas, killing 16 miners and wounding nine others, two of them seriously”, Jawaid Shahwani, commissioner of Quetta Division told Geo News. There were 30 workers inside the mine at the time of the accident.
“We are trying our best to recover bodies but it will take time as most of them are buried very deep,” Shahwani said.
In the second mine collapse, seven miners were killed in Sooranj area, also near Quetta. On Saturday night, two unconscious workers were rescued and bodies of two miners were recovered. On Sunday, five bodies were recovered when the rescue operation resumed.