In a tragic incident, a coal mine in northern Afghanistan’s Dara-i Sof Payin district, Samangan province, collapsed late Saturday, leaving 32 miners trapped underground.
Samangan governor spokesman, Esmat Muradi, confirmed the situation on Sunday, stating that rescuers have been working tirelessly to reach the miners.
“Thirty-two people are trapped, and it’s not clear how many of them are dead or alive,” Muradi said, highlighting the severity of the situation.
Efforts to clear the mine’s entrance have been ongoing since early morning, but progress remains slow, he added.
The mining sector in Afghanistan has long been plagued by a lack of oversight and safety measures.
Workers frequently operate in unsafe conditions, with minimal equipment or protective gear. This has resulted in frequent and often fatal accidents.
In February 2022, at least 10 miners lost their lives when a coal mine collapsed in Baghlan province.
In June 2020, a gas explosion in Samangan caused a cave-in, killing seven workers.
In 2019, a gold mine collapse in Badakhshan province claimed at least 30 lives.
These incidents underscore the urgent need for improved safety regulations and oversight in Afghanistan’s mining industry.
Despite its rich deposits of coal, marble, minerals, gold, and gemstones, Afghanistan’s mining industry remains underdeveloped and hazardous.
The lack of proper infrastructure and safety protocols exposes workers to significant risks.
The ongoing efforts to rescue the trapped miners in Samangan highlight the challenging conditions faced by emergency responders.
The collapse adds to the grim tally of lives lost in Afghanistan’s unregulated mining sector.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the collapse and the fate of the trapped miners remains uncertain.