A coal mine explosion in Pakistan's Balochistan province has killed at least 11 miners, with dozens still missing, officials said Thursday. The blast is believed to have been triggered by a buildup of methane gas, according to government mine inspector Ghani Baloch.

Rescue workers, assisted by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority and other emergency responders, are continuing the search for trapped miners. A total of 36 people were in the collapsed section of the mine at the time of the explosion, said Muhammad Atif, the province's chief inspector of mines.

By late Thursday night, 28 miners remained missing, with rescue efforts ongoing at a depth of 4,000 feet (1,219 meters). "We are hopeful to find some miners alive, but chances are low," Atif told Reuters.

The explosion occurred in Sorange, a remote area near the provincial capital Quetta. Accidents are common in Pakistan's coal mining industry, particularly in Balochistan, where many mines lack adequate ventilation, gas monitoring systems, and other basic safety measures.

Mineworkers 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 Balochistan, Pakistan's largest but least developed province, where unemployment and poverty remain widespread.

Source: www.aljazeera.com