At least seven Pakistani miners were killed and four are still missing in a mine accident in the northern city of Ibri in Oman, officials of the Pakistan Embassy in Muscat confirmed and added they were in touch with local officials for the search and rescue mission. 

The incident reportedly took place after a rockslide hit a marble quarry, crushing seven of the miners there and possibly burying those missing, reported The Express Tribune. Another rescued miner has sustained injuries and is currently seeking treatment in a local hospital.  

For rescue and search operations, authorities have deployed heavy machinery, sophisticated cameras, and are using sniffer dogs to trace missing people. Two officials from the Pakistani Embassy in Muscat have also visited the site and met with the affected families. 

The Embassy also offered complete support and gave the assurance of help in repatriating bodies back to Pakistan. 

Over 1.7 million Pakistani workers are employed in the Gulf countries in sectors like construction, mining, and agriculture. The numbers have dropped in recent years as Oman authorities have banned issuing work visas in certain professions, reserving them only for their own citizens. 

(SAM)