Four miners died while another four were injured after a gas explosion at a coal mine in the Shahrag area of Balochistan’s Harnai district, officials said.

According to rescue sources, the incident occurred at PMDC Coal Mine 151 in Shahrag, where a powerful explosion took place following the accumulation of methane gas.

“Eight miners were trapped deep inside the mine as fire broke out after the blast,” Muhammad Atif Khan, the Balochistan chief inspector of mines, told Dawn.

He said that soon after receiving information about the incident, rescue teams and the local administration launched a rescue operation.

Four miners were recovered dead while four others were rescued in an injured condition and shifted to hospital, the official added.

State-run Radio Pakistan reported that the army also took part in the rescue operation. However, it reported that five miners were rescued alive from the site, rather than four.

After completion of the necessary formalities, the bodies were sent to their native area in Swat. The injured miners were provided initial medical treatment before being referred to Quetta for further treatment.

Accidents are common in Pakistan’s coal mines, mainly due to gas build-ups.

Mine workers have complained that a lack of safety gear and poor working conditions are the key causes of frequent accidents, according to labour union officials.

Last month, three workers were killed in a gas explosion at a coal mine in the Degari area of Balochistan’s Mastung district.

In late July, at least 32 coal miners — most of whom were from Shangla — were killed in a powerful methane gas explosion at a coal mine in Quetta. The victims’ heirs later refused to receive the compensation cheques worth Rs400,000.

Following that incident, the National Labour Federation (NLF) Balochistan demanded reforms in mine safety.

NLF Balochistan General Secretary Umar Hayat said the province had 196 mining companies operating nearly 3,000 coal mines, yet only 17 mine inspectors were responsible for monitoring safety standards, describing the number as “grossly inadequate”.