A coal mine in northern Afghanistan collapsed late Saturday, trapping 32 miners underground. Rescuers have been working nonstop to reach the men, a provincial official confirmed on Sunday.
Esmat Muradi, a spokesman for the Samangan governor, said the incident occurred in the Dara-i Sof Payin district of Samangan province.
“Thirty-two people are trapped, but it’s unclear how many are dead or alive,” Muradi shared. “Rescue teams and excavators started early this morning, but the mine’s opening is still blocked.”
Mining accidents like this are sadly common in Afghanistan, where safety regulations are minimal. Many workers rely on basic tools and lack proper safety equipment while mining coal, marble, gold, gemstones, and other minerals.
In February 2022, a coal mine collapse in Baghlan province killed at least 10 miners. Similar tragedies have occurred in Samangan, where a gas explosion in June 2020 killed seven workers. In Badakhshan province, a 2019 gold mine collapse took the lives of at least 30 people, followed by another deadly incident last year.
Rescue operations continue in the hope of saving the trapped miners, but the risk of mining in Afghanistan remains alarmingly high.
