At least 12 labourers were killed when a coalmine collapsed in south-western Pakistan after a gas explosion on Wednesday.
The explosion occurred overnight in the town of Harnai in the province of Balochistan, trapping at least two dozen workers, a local official, Qismatullah Tareen said.
Rescuers scrambled for several hours through the rubbles to retrieve bodies and pulled at least 12 injured people alive, said Mohamed Ahmer from the provincial rescue department.
Gas explosions and accidents inside Pakistan’s coal mines known as `black death holes’, kill hundreds of workers every year, according to data by the Industrial Global Union.
According to the All Pakistan Mines Association, coal miners work in extremely hazardous conditions without safety gear, proper training, life insurance and backup for rescue.
(dpa/NAN)
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