A gas leak in a Balochistan coal mine on Monday claimed the lives of 11 people, according to Abdul Ghani Baloch, head of the provincial mining department.
Nine of the deceased were miners, while a contractor and a mine manager were also among the victims.
The incident occurred at a mine operated by the private firm United Coal Company, located 40 kilometers from Quetta, the provincial capital.
Tragic accidents are a recurring issue in Pakistan’s coal mines, notorious for unsafe working conditions and lax safety regulations.
This latest disaster follows a similar incident in March, where a gas explosion caused a mine collapse and killed 12 miners.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest yet poorest province, is rich in natural resources. Locals have long voiced concerns about the unequal distribution of these resources within their communities.
