SWAT: In a rescue operation that lasted about seven hours, four miners trapped in an emerald mine were successfully brought to safety late Wednesday night.

According to Shafiqa Gul, spokesperson of Rescue1122, the incident occurred in the Fazagat area of Swat where a section of an emerald mine tunnel suddenly caved in while four labourers were working inside.

The trapped workers, identified as Syed Ahmad Khan, Muhammad Sadiq, Taj Muhammad, and Saeed Ali Shah, all residents of Shangla, were left stranded after the tunnel`s entrance was blocked by the collapsed debris.

`Upon receiving the emergency call, Rescue 1122 teams rushed to the site and launched an intensive operation. A narrow opening was created to insert an oxygen pipe into the tunnel, ensuring the workers could breathe while the rescue teams cleared the debris,` she said.

District Emergency Officer Rafiullah Marwat personally supervised the operation, which concluded after several hours of continuous efforts. All four workers were successfully rescued without serious injuries and were provided immediate medical care.

The incident has raised concerns over the safety measures in private mining operations in the region. Authorities are expected to investigate the causes of the collapse and assess the structural safety of other mines in the vicinity.