More than 200 people stood outside the mine waiting to help or hear news from the search, but since Sunday's accident, only bodies – 27 of them – have been recovered. Wooden caskets have been lined up to await the remaining bodies, which is feared to have left 52 dead.
"We have yet to dig out and search the remaining two wings, but there is zero per cent chance we can get anybody alive," said Iftekhar Ahmed, a government mine inspector.
Mr Ahmed said 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.
Methane gas is a major cause of coal mine explosions around the world. It can cause also cause asphyxiation.
Ghulam Mohammad, a miner, said he feared for the lives of his friends. "None of my five room-mates have been found dead or alive yet," said the 30-year-old, who finished his shift just hours before the explosion. (read more)
Isn't it strange how many mining accidents have been occurring these past months? Is it just a regular part of the dangers of the coal mining industry? Is it due to changing geological conditions, ones also stirring an increase in quakes and other disasters?