A devastating methane gas explosion at a coal mine in eastern Iran has claimed the lives of at least 51 workers, according to state media reports on Sunday. The incident occurred in South Khorasan province, with over 20 individuals sustaining injuries.
The blast, which took place at 21:00 local time on Saturday, was reportedly caused by a gas leak in two sections of the mine in Tabas, located 540 km southeast of Tehran. South Khorasan’s governor, Javad Ghenaatzadeh, confirmed that 69 workers were present in the affected areas during the explosion.
The official death toll has been updated from an initial 30, with the number of injured now standing at 20. The current status of those who may still be trapped inside the mine remains uncertain.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has offered his condolences to the families of the victims and has pledged to take necessary actions. “I have spoken with ministers, and we will do our utmost to follow up on this incident,” Pezeshkian stated in a televised address.
The Tabas mine, which spans over 30,000 square kilometers, is known for its significant reserves of coking and thermal coal, making it Iran’s most abundant coal region. However, the area’s complexity has complicated search and rescue operations, as noted by local prosecutor Ali Nesaei.
Nesaei emphasized that the priority at the moment is to provide medical assistance to the injured and to rescue any individuals who may be trapped under the debris. He also assured that any negligence or fault on the part of responsible parties will be addressed in due course.
This tragedy follows a series of mining accidents in Iran. In 2020, an explosion in Damghan claimed six lives, and in May 2021, two miners died in a collapse at the same Tabas site. The deadliest incident occurred in 2017 when 43 miners lost their lives in Azad Shahr city, an event that sparked public outrage towards Iranian authorities.
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