At least 32 miners were killed when a methane gas explosion tore through the Sorange coal mine near Quetta, capital of Pakistan's Baluchistan province, on Thursday. Rescue crews recovered 29 bodies from the wreckage, with three miners still trapped inside, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority said. Chief Mine Inspector Muhammad Atif said 36 workers were underground at the time of the blast.
Low oxygen levels hampered rescue operations, and inspectors warned the chances of finding survivors were slim. Baluchistan Mines Minister Shoaib Nosherwani announced compensation of 500,000 Pakistani rupees for each victim's family.
The Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation cited suspected negligence and demanded accountability over safety conditions at the site. The explosion was likely caused by accumulated methane, officials said.