Baghlan, July 23 (BNA): Six workers were killed, and 18 others injured following an explosion at a coal mine in Baghlan province, northern Afghanistan, local authorities reported. 

Mawlawi Abdullah, Director of the Karkar coal mine, said the explosion occurred on Monday afternoon, adding that investigations are still underway to determine the exact cause and circumstances of the incident. 

The injured were transported to nearby hospitals for urgent medical care. Local officials noted that poor safety measures in unregulated mining operations continue to pose a serious threat to workers in the region. 

Mining accidents, particularly in coal mines, are frequent in Afghanistan due to the lack of technical oversight and weak infrastructure, often resulting in casualties.