Officials say a methane gas explosion has caused a mine to collapse in a remote area in restive southwest Pakistan, killing at least three workers and trapping nine others.

The coal mine collapsed on January 9 in the Sanjdi area located around 40 kilometers from Quetta in the Balochistan province.

None of the miners had been rescued yet, he added. Shahid Rind, a spokesman in the Balochistan government, said all available resources are being used to save the lives of the coal miners. In a statement,

At least 12 miners were trapped in Pakistan on Thursday after an explosion caused a coal mine collapse in the southwestern province of Balochistan. The mishap occurred in the Sanjdi area outside the capital city of Quetta.