At least 11 miners have died and 28 remain missing after an explosion at a coal mine in Sorange, Balochistan, on July 30, 2026. Officials say a buildup of methane gas likely triggered the blast; 36 people were in the collapsed section and rescue teams are working at about 4,000 feet (1,219 metres) underground. The incident highlights chronic safety failures in Balochistan's coal industry, where inadequate ventilation and gas monitoring are common.
At Least 11 Killed and Dozens Missing After Coal Mine Explosion in Balochistan
Coal miners and relatives gather after a coal mine collapsed in the Sorange area, some 50 kilometres (31 miles) east of Quetta, on July 30, 2026 [AFP]
At least 11 miners were killed and dozens remain unaccounted for after an explosion tore through a coal mine in the Sorange area of Balochistan on July 30, 2026. Officials believe an accumulation of methane gas triggered the blast, which caused a tunnel collapse deep underground.
What Happened
Government mine inspector Ghani Baloch said the victims' bodies were recovered hours after the explosion. Muhammad Atif, the province's chief inspector of mines, told Reuters that 36 people were working in the section that collapsed and that 28 remained missing late Thursday night. Search teams were operating at a depth of roughly 4,000 feet (1,219 metres).
Rescue Efforts
Rescue workers, supported by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and other emergency responders, continued round-the-clock operations to reach trapped miners. “We are hopeful to find some miners alive, but chances are low,” Atif said, reflecting the difficulty and danger of deep underground rescue operations.
Local Context and Safety Concerns
The blast occurred in Sorange, about 50 kilometres (31 miles) east of Quetta, in a remote part of Pakistan's largest but least developed province. Accidents are frequent in Balochistan's coalfields, where many shafts lack adequate ventilation, gas-detection systems and other basic safety measures. Mineworkers and labour groups have long accused some mine owners of neglecting safety regulations and failing to provide proper protective equipment.
Despite hazardous conditions and low pay, thousands of families in Balochistan depend on coal mining for their livelihoods. The tragedy underscores longstanding safety shortfalls in the sector and adds pressure on authorities and operators to tighten regulation and oversight.
Sources: Statements from provincial mine inspectors; Reuters and AFP reporting.
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