Nine miners buried alive near Abbottabad

ABBOTTABAD: A massive landslip Wednesday buried nine miners of a phosphate quarry alive near Abbottabad, Geo News reported.

The incident took place when miners were having lunch inside the mine in the mountainous Tarnawi area, some 45 kilometres (28 miles) northeast of the garrison city of Abbottabad.

Talking to Geo News, DPO Abbottabad feared there might be no survivors.

Though, a rescue operation had been launched but it faced too many difficulties, he said.

So far, dangerous route, inclement weather, and heavy snowfall stand between the rescuers and the traumatized, he said, adding Pakistan Army could be their (miners) last hope.

Local police said the men who were trapped were poor labourers and that local residents were digging with shovels to help rescue them.

Illegal phosphate mining was rampant in the area and that could be one of those unauthorized quarries, he said, however, he added they were trying to contact the mining department about its legitimacy.