ISLAMABAD, March 16 (Xinhua) -- An explosion in a coal mine in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province killed at least seven miners, officials said on Tuesday.
Chief Inspector of Mines in Balochistan Shafqat Fayyaz said the explosion occurred late Monday due to gas leakage, adding that most parts of the coal mine collapsed and caused a blaze inside.
The provincial government has ordered an inquiry into the incident and registration of cases against the contractor and the manager of the coal mine for negligence, Fayyaz said in a statement.
Rescue teams and laborers from nearby coal mines arrived at the scene for rescue operation and recovered the bodies, Fayyaz said, adding that the rescue operation has been completed.
It was the second explosion in coal mine in Balochistan in less than a week. An explosion in a coal mine in Marwar killed at least six miners on Thursday. Enditem