At least 34 miners were killed after a powerful methane gas explosion triggered the collapse of parts of a mining complex in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province on Thursday, officials said.
Rescue teams are continuing operations to reach two miners who remain trapped beneath the rubble, according to Muhammad Fahad, Director of Operations at the Provincial Disaster Management Authority.
Balochistan's Minister for Mines and Mineral Development, Shoaib Nosherwani, said 36 miners were inside the affected section of the mining complex when the explosion occurred.
The blast struck the Sorange mining area near the provincial capital Quetta, with rescue workers searching at a depth of around 4,000 feet (1,219 metres), according to Muhammad Atif, the province's Chief Inspector of Mines.
Senior regional mining official Abdul Ghani Baloch said the explosion was caused by methane gas and damaged two neighbouring mines.
'Two mines close to each other were damaged in a powerful methane gas explosion,' he said.
Mining accidents are relatively common in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, where poor safety standards, inadequate ventilation and methane gas accumulation continue to pose serious risks to workers.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident as rescue efforts continue.
(with inputs from Reuters)