Balochistan coal mine explosion kills 34 miners, government launches inquiry

On July 30, a methane gas explosion occurred in the Sorange (Spin Karez) coal mine near Quetta in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, causing a partial collapse and trapping workers. The blast killed 34 miners who were working several thousand feet underground.

All victims were from Shangla district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, many from the same village of Mian Kallay Pirabad, and were related to each other. Their deaths left numerous children orphaned and women widowed, highlighting the dependence of about 65 % of Shangla’s population on coal mining for livelihood.

The Balochistan government, led by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, ordered a high‑level inquiry by the Chief Minister’s Inspection Team and sealed four mines, including the two directly involved. The investigation will determine the cause, assign responsibility for negligence, and propose safety reforms.

The tragedy underscores longstanding safety deficiencies in Pakistan’s mining sector, where many workers lack legal registration, social security, and insurance, and where repeated accidents have caused hundreds of deaths and disabilities over decades.