Death toll from Pakistan mining explosions climbs to 18

QUETTA, Pakistan – Pakistani officials say the death toll from methane gas explosions in two coal mines has climbed to 18.

Farrukh Atiq, a senior administrator, said Sunday that 11 miners were killed and another five are still missing from one of the explosions the day before. Mine Inspector Iftikhar Ahmed says the other explosion killed seven miners and wounded two.

Both mines are located near the southwestern city of Quetta, an area where such accidents are common because of poor enforcement of safety regulations. The explosions were not linked.