Twelve mine workers have lost their lives in a gas explosion at a coalmine in Balochistan, Pakistan. The explosion occurred due to a build-up of methane gas inside the mine, causing it to collapse, trapping the miners.
Eight workers who tried to rescue their colleagues also became trapped for hours. A further rescue operation took place overnight, with the eight rushed to the hospital.
Underground explosions in coal mines due to build-up of methane gas is a recurring phenomenon in Pakistan. In 2023 alone, around a hundred workers lost their lives, and fifty more were seriously injured in coal mine accidents. A lack of a proper warning system gas build-ups inside the mines has resulted in many fatalities in Pakistan’s mines. In January this year, three coal workers died from gas poisoning while performing underground mine work.
IndustriALL Global Union has been advocating for better health and safety measures in Pakistan's mines, especially in unregistered ones where conditions are even more perilous.
IndustriALL have emphasised the need for employers and the government to prioritise workers safety. Ratifying ILO C176 is seen as a crucial step toward ensuring proper safety mechanisms in Pakistan's mines.
Source: Al Jazeera