One miner was killed and another injured after an explosion during a mining operation in Barg-e Matal district of Afghanistan’s northeastern Nuristan province, local sources said.
The incident occurred on Saturday, August 8, in the Pechigram area while the two men were extracting minerals, according to the sources. The deceased was identified as Ghulam Mohammad, a resident of Nari district in neighbouring Kunar province.
The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear, and there was no immediate information about the type of mineral being extracted or what triggered the blast.
The incident highlights continuing safety risks in Afghanistan’s mining sector, where workers have been killed or injured in mine collapses and other accidents in recent years.
Recent incidents include deadly mine collapses in Badakhshan and a methane-gas explosion at a coal mine in Samangan. In June 2025, four miners were killed when a coal mine collapsed in Samangan, with experts citing unsafe and poorly regulated mining practices as a contributing factor.
Afghanistan has substantial mineral resources, but the sector continues to face challenges related to regulation, occupational safety and effective oversight. Repeated accidents have raised concerns about the need for stronger safety standards and better protection for mine workers.
Further details about the Nuristan explosion, including the condition of the injured miner and the circumstances surrounding the blast, were not immediately available.
