Five workers were killed after a coal mine collapsed in Seri Darra village near Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The incident occurred as seven miners were digging coal roughly 800ft deep in the tunnel and was said to be caused by a gas explosion, according to PTI.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

The workers subsequently became trapped in the tunnel following the explosion, which resulted in the fatalities.

"The incident occurred as seven miners were digging coal roughly 800ft deep in the tunnel and was said to be caused by a gas explosion."

Deputy Commissioner of Muzaffarabad Masood ur-Rehman was quoted by PTI as saying: “Two persons escaped but five were trapped and killed.”

The miners reportedly died before rescue teams were able to reach the site.

Officials have ordered for the closure of the mine until further notice, while the leaseholder and contractor have allegedly been booked with charges of murder for non-compliance of safety standards.