A methane gas explosion at a coal mine near Quetta (the provincial capital of Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province by area) killed at least 15 miners on Thursday afternoon, with more than two dozen workers still trapped underground. The blast, which occurred at the Sorange coalfield some 30 kilometres from Quetta, ignited a fire and caused tunnel collapses roughly 4,000 feet below the surface, hampering rescue efforts by spreading toxic gases and blocking mine entrances; a neighbouring mine was also affected, bringing the total number of workers caught in both sites to 36. Balochistan's provincial government has pledged compensation to victims' families and announced an inquiry, but officials warned that survival chances for those still missing were slim given the ongoing fire and hazardous conditions underground.