Four miners have died after inhaling toxic gas inside a coal mine in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province, local authorities and the mining company said.

The incident occurred in a coal mine tunnel in Tala wa Barfak district, where the miners became trapped underground after dangerous gases accumulated inside the shaft. Rescue efforts failed to save the workers, who were later found dead.

Afghanistan's state-run Northern Coal Enterprise said the accident took place at a small-scale and non-standard coal mine in the area. The company did not provide further details on the type of gas involved or the exact cause of the buildup.

Mining accidents remain a recurring problem in Afghanistan, where many coal and mineral extraction sites operate with limited safety equipment, poor ventilation systems and a lack of modern monitoring technology. Previous incidents have also highlighted the risks faced by miners working in unsafe underground conditions.

The Afghan authorities have not announced whether an official investigation into the accident has been launched.(ILKHA)