ISLAMABAD, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in coal mine collapse in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province has risen to 11, as rescuers retrieved more bodies of the trapped miners, the chief mines inspector of the province said on Sunday.
The incident happened in the provincial capital city of Quetta on Thursday night due to the accumulation of methane gas, which caused the mine to collapse, trapping around a dozen miners inside, Abdul Ghani Baloch, the inspector, told media.
Rescue teams, including mining engineers and specialized staff, have been working tirelessly to remove debris and clear a path into the mine, he said.
Despite the efforts, the operation has faced significant challenges as the gas explosion caused the mine to collapse completely, blocking all access points and slowing the rescue process.
The miners were trapped at a depth of 4,000 feet, and so far, rescuers have managed to clear debris down to 3,600 feet using heavy machinery.
Efforts are still underway to recover the body of at least one miner who remains trapped.
Mining accidents are tragically common in Pakistan due to a lack of health and safety measures, as well as irregular inspections, according to a recent report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. ■
