Four men have died of gas asphyxiation in a coal mine in northeastern Afghanistan, the information department of Baghlan province reported yesterday.
The accident occurred at a mine in Tala Wa Barfak that "did not meet standards" for safety, department head Sayed Mustafa Hashimi told AFP.
The men "were extracting coal when an accident unfortunately took place. They suffocated due to gas and died", he said.
Afghanistan's mining industry is poorly regulated, and fatal accidents are common.
In addition to coal, Afghanistan also mines marble, minerals, gold and precious stones.
In July last year, six miners were killed and 18 were injured in a coal mine collapse in Baghlan.