Crews at an unidentified coal mine in northwestern Pakistan recovered nine bodies and four injured individuals after a methane gas explosion on 30 November, according to reports citing government officials.
An Associated Press report said the blast occurred at an operation in the Orakzai district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province which is near Afghanistan. Deputy commissioner Adnan Khan told regional outlet MEHR News Agency that the four that survived the explosion suffered critical injuries.
There were reportedly no others working at the operation outside of the 14 that were injured or killed.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and local government officials offered separate statements of sorrow post-blast. An investigation has commenced to determine if there was negligence involved in the incident.
The current operating status of the mine is not known.
Sources: Explosion in northwest Pakistan coal mine kills 9, injures 4 – ABC News (go.com)