A methane blast ripped through a coal mine near Quetta, killing 18 miners and trapping 24 others. The disaster has sharpened calls for accountability and stricter mine safety enforcement in Baluchistan.

At least 18 miners were killed and 24 others remained trapped after an explosion inside a coal mine in southwest Pakistan on Thursday, with rescuers trying to reach them amid fears that their condition was life-threatening.

Officials said the blast took place on the outskirts of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, and was apparently caused by a build-up of methane gas. Rescue teams continued their operation late into the day, while officials said the death toll was likely to rise.

Government mine inspector Ghani Baloch said the bodies of seven miners were recovered in the initial hours after the blast, and emergency responders later found 11 more bodies. He said the rescue operation would continue until all those trapped underground were found.

“The chances of finding anyone alive diminish after methane gas explosions because oxygen levels drop to zero, and rescuers are also proceeding cautiously inside the mine,” Baloch said. He added that authorities were handing over the bodies to families for burial, while relatives of those still trapped waited anxiously for updates.

Baluchistan’s Minister for Mines and Minerals, Shoaib Nosherwani, said rescue teams were working under extremely difficult conditions and that the provincial government would go all-out in the response. He expressed condolences to the families of those killed and said the government would pay compensation of 5,00,000 Pakistani rupees, about USD 1,800, to the family of each miner who died in the blast.

Nosherwani said authorities would carry out a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion and review mining safety measures to help prevent similar accidents. A coal miners’ labour union said it suspected negligence led to the explosion and called for action against those responsible. In a statement, the Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation urged the government to strictly enforce safety rules and take tough action against companies that violate mine safety laws.

Deadly accidents are common in Pakistan’s coal mining industry, especially in Baluchistan, where many mines lack proper ventilation, gas monitoring systems and other basic safety measures. Mine workers and labour groups have long accused mine owners of failing to enforce safety rules or provide adequate protective equipment. Even so, thousands of miners in the province continue to depend on the coal industry for their livelihood despite the risks and low wages.

The explosion near Quetta has left at least 18 miners dead, 24 trapped and rescue teams working in difficult conditions, as authorities face calls for accountability and a review of mine safety.

With PTI Inputs