TAKHAR — Five workers lost their lives when a coal mine collapsed in the Shah Mastan Valley of Chah Ab district in northern Takhar province, local Taliban officials confirmed.
According to local authorities, the tragic incident occurred due to a structural collapse within the mining site. Details regarding the exact cause of the collapse and the safety conditions at the site remain under review by local officials.
Mining accidents are a frequent occurrence in remote parts of Afghanistan, where safety standards, ventilation, and regulatory oversight are severely lacking.
Many artisanal and small-scale mines operate without adequate equipment or structural reinforcements, leaving workers vulnerable to cave-ins, particularly amid the economic pressures driving hazardous labor across the country.