At least nine miners were killed and 20 others injured when a blast took place in a mine in southwestern Pakistan on Thursday, the private TV channel DAWN NEWS reported.

The incident occurred in the Sorenge area of Quetta District in southwestern Balochistan province, said the report.

The official Associated Press of Pakistan quoted President of Pakistan Metal Workers' Federation (PMWF) Nur Muhammad Yousafzai as saying that the incident took place in Sorenj Coal Field, some 20 kilometers east of Quetta, capital city of Balochistan province.

The Chief Inspector of Mines in Balochistan Ashraf confirmed the incident, saying that teams had been sent to the area to rescue the miners.

(Xinhua News Agency March 5, 2009)