48 Confirmed Dead in Pakistan Mine Explosion

At least 52 miners were trapped Sunday when a methane gas explosion caused a southwest Pakistan mine to collapse. Although just 28 bodies have been recovered, 48 of the men have been confirmed dead.  Balochistan province irrigation minister Sardar Aslam Bizenjo said there is “very little chance of survival” for the four men who have not been declared dead.

Rescue workers used shovels and their bare hands to dig bodies out of one of the mine’s wings. Machines could not be used in the search effort because of the state of the mine.

The mine, which is located in Soringe about 22 miles from Quetta, is owned by the state-run Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation. Government inspector Iftikhar Ahmed said the contractor working the mine disregarded a warning issued earlier this month that stated the mine was dangerous because of methane gas.

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