At least 32 miners remain trapped underground following the collapse of a coal mine in northern Afghanistan, provincial officials confirmed on Sunday.

The incident occurred late Saturday in the Dara-i-Sof Payin district of Samangan province, prompting an urgent rescue operation.

Samangan Governor’s spokesperson, Esmat Muradi, stated that it is still unclear how many of the trapped miners may still be alive.

“Excavators and rescuers have been working tirelessly since early morning, but unfortunately, the mine’s entrance has not yet been cleared,” Muradi said.

Afghanistan’s mining industry is known for operating with minimal oversight, leading to frequent and deadly accidents. Many workers extract resources like coal, marble, gold, gemstones, and minerals from makeshift pits lacking proper safety measures.

Previous incidents highlight the risks miners face. In February 2022, a coal mine collapse in Baghlan province claimed ten lives. Earlier tragedies include a gas explosion in Samangan in June 2020 that killed seven workers and the collapse of a gold mine in Badakhshan in 2019, which left at least 30 dead.