Rescue teams continued searching for two workers still missing at the coal mine in Sorange, near the provincial capital, Quetta. Officials said 36 miners were underground when the explosion occurred.

The blast is believed to have been caused by a build-up of methane gas.

Images from the site on Friday showed ambulances outside the mine, rescue workers gathered around the entrance and wooden coffins prepared for the victims. Teams were also seen working deep underground.

Muhammad Zeshan, an engineer and mine rescue and safety superintendent officer, said the collapse made the recovery operation difficult.

“Due to the mine collapse, we were forced to start a rescue operation through this mine, and we were able to retrieve the bodies,” he said.

“So far, we have recovered the bodies of 32 individuals, with only the bodies of two mine workers remaining, and our rescue operation is ongoing to recover them,” he added.

Coal miner Muhammad Shah said poverty continued to push workers into dangerous mining conditions .

“These people come here due to poverty and work in these mines, they are forced to do so and work in very dangerous places,” he said.

“Sometimes incidents occur and in this incident, all 34 people have died. Among the deceased, three were trying to save others, but unfortunately, they also lost their lives. This is the current condition of the mine,” he added.