Nine rescued from gas blasts mine

Nine men have been rescued after being trapped for two days in a coal mine in south-western Pakistan which collapsed after a series of methane gas explosions, a senior official said today.

Iftikhar Ahmed said all nine were found unconscious, buried beneath sand and wooden supports, but were not seriously injured.

Rescue workers were surprised to find the men because officials said yesterday that they feared everyone in the mine had died.

Mr Ahmed said the final death toll from the accident in Baluchistan province was 43.

The mine, owned by the state-run Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation, was declared dangerous two weeks ago due to the presence of methane gas, but the warning was ignored by the contractor working it.