Afghan media, citing Taliban representatives, have reported that eight Afghan workers were reportedly killed in an explosion at a coal mine in northern Tajikistan. Tajik authorities, however, have not confirmed or commented on the accident.
Ettelaat-e Ruz published the names and photos of the victims, stating that all of them were residents of Daikundi Province (Daikundi is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan, located in the central part of the country; its residents are mostly peasants, traders, and shop owners).
According to a source cited by the publication, the explosion occurred around noon on May 9 at a coal mine in the Tajik northern district of Ayni. The cause of the blast was said to be a gas buildup inside the mine.
Ettelaat-e Ruz also reported that the bodies of the deceased were returned to Afghanistan on the morning of May 10.
The workers were reportedly employed by an Afghan subcontractor company working with a subsidiary of the Faroz holding group, which was dissolved several years ago.
The source accused the subcontractor of “incompetence” and lacking qualified engineers.
The report also highlights that due to high unemployment in Afghanistan, many citizens—particularly young people—seek work abroad, often engaging in physically demanding and hazardous jobs, including in the mining sector.
So far, Tajik authorities have not confirmed the accident. Regional and district emergency and fire safety departments contacted by Asia-Plus did not verify the occurrence of such an event.
