Blast rocks mine in northwest Pakistan, killing 16

Blast rocks mine in northwest Pakistan, killing 16

2011-09-27 21:24:15 GMT+7 (ICT)

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- At least sixteen workers were killed on late Monday evening when a large explosion ripped through a marble mine in northwestern Pakistan, local media reported on Tuesday.

The blast occurred on Monday night at a marble mine located in the Bhuhama area of Buner in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the Nation reported. The mountainous district is located about 110 kilometers (68 miles) northwest of Islamabad, the country's capital.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his condolence over the loss of life as a result of the mine explosion, according to a statement carried by state-run media. The cause of the accident remains uncertain, but investigations have been launched.

Earlier this year, on March 21, a coal mine explosion in the Surran range, located in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, killed 45 workers. The blast was reportedly caused by a buildup of toxic gases due to the mine's lack of ventilation.

Just a month earlier, on February 14, a chromite mine in the town of Qila Saifullah, also in the province of Balochistan, collapsed, killing two Chinese engineers.

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