At least 34 workers have been confirmed dead following a methane gas explosion at a coal mine in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, authorities said.

The blast occurred on Thursday at a mine near the provincial capital, triggering a rescue operation that continued into the night.

In a statement issued early Friday, the Balochistan Provincial Disaster Management Authority said rescue teams had recovered 34 bodies from the site.

“According to information received from the deployed teams, 34 dead bodies have been recovered,” the agency said.

It added that rescue efforts were still ongoing to locate and recover other miners believed to be trapped underground, although officials did not disclose the total number of workers in the mine at the time of the explosion.

Authorities said the explosion was caused by a buildup of methane gas, a common hazard in underground coal mining.

Mining accidents are frequent in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, where poor safety standards and hazardous working conditions have contributed to recurring fatalities.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by land area, remains the country’s least developed region, with persistent challenges in education, employment and economic development despite its abundant natural resources.