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Dozens killed and injured in Afghanistan mine collapse
September 15, 2013, 6:19 am

Afghanistan has a poor safety record in coal mining [Getty Images]

Afghanistan has a poor safety record in coal mining [Getty Images]

At least 27 miners feared missing after a coal mine collapse in Afghanistan’s northern Samangan province have been found dead, local officials said late Saturday.

Some 20 others including four rescue workers were injured when the Abkhorak coal mine in the Ro-e-Dohab district, more than 200km north of the capital Kabul, collapsed, said provincial government spokesperson Mohammad Seddiq Azizi.

There had been fears that more miners may be trapped, but Azizi said the rescue operation had ended.

Nearly 50 people were trapped under the debris there.

Hundreds of local people also joined the police and rescue team to help save the lives in the province with Aybak as its capital, 215 km north of Afghan capital Kabul.

Afghanistan, which is said to have hundreds of mineral mines operated by the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, has a poor mining safety record.

In December 2012, 11 miners were killed when the mine they were working collapsed in the northern Baghlan province.

Source: Agencies