An explosion inside a coal mine in southwest Pakistan has killed at least six miners and trapped 42 others underground

QUETTA, Pakistan -- An explosion inside a coal mine in southwest Pakistan killed at least six miners Thursday and trapped 42 others underground, where rescuers were racing to reach them, an official said.

The blast occurred on the outskirts of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, government mine inspector Ghani Baloch said.

The bodies of the six miners were recovered hours after the deadly blast, apparently triggered by a buildup of methane gas, Baloch said. Rescue workers assisted by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority and other emergency responders were continuing efforts to reach the trapped miners, he said.

Baloch did not immediately say how deep underground the miners were working. He said the rescue operation would continue until all the trapped miners were accounted for.

Deadly accidents are common in Pakistan’s coal mining industry, particularly in Baluchistan, where many mines lack adequate ventilation, gas monitoring systems and other basic safety measures.

Mine workers and labor groups have long accused mine owners of failing to enforce safety regulations or provide adequate protective equipment.

Despite the risks and low wages, thousands of miners depend on the coal industry for their livelihoods in Baluchistan, Pakistan’s largest but least developed province, where unemployment and poverty remain widespread.

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