At least 32 mine workers were killed in a devastating explosion at a coal mine on the outskirts of Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, on Thursday. At least 10 more workers remain trapped inside the mine, while the provincial disaster management authority said rescue operations are continuing in the mine’s depths.

Government mine inspector Ghani Baloch said preliminary investigators believe toxic methane gas accumulated inside the mine and caused the explosion. Rescue teams initially recovered seven bodies, then retrieved another 25 during further searches. Local authorities fear the chances of finding survivors are very low because oxygen levels inside the mine fell rapidly after the methane explosion, requiring rescuers to work with extreme caution.

Balochistan’s mines and minerals minister Shoaib Nosherwani pledged full provincial government support for the rescue effort and announced compensation of 500,000 Pakistani rupees for each victim’s family. Authorities have ordered an investigation committee to determine the precise cause and review mine safety arrangements. The Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation blamed serious safety negligence and demanded action against those responsible and strict enforcement of mine safety rules.