A gas leak explosion at a coal mine in eastern Iran has tragically claimed the lives of at least 51 workers, marking one of the country’s deadliest workplace incidents in recent years, according to state media reports on Sunday.
The official IRNA news agency initially reported 30 fatalities but later revised the toll to 51, noting that 20 additional individuals were injured in the blast that occurred at approximately 9:00 PM (1730 GMT) on Saturday. At the time, around 70 workers were present at the Tabas mine in South Khorasan province.
The explosion, attributed to a methane leak, affected two sections of the mine, which is owned by the private Iranian firm Madanjoo. State television showed images of ambulances and helicopters responding to the scene, while footage released by IRNA depicted the bodies of some victims being recovered from the mine, still in their work attire.
South Khorasan governor Javad Ghenaat informed state TV that rescue teams were actively working to locate and recover those still trapped underground. According to reports, some workers were situated about 250 metres (820 feet) below the surface, hindered by chambers that had filled with methane.
Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni indicated that a gas condensation incident was likely the cause of the explosion. He noted that rescue operations could last until tomorrow as efforts continued.
In a statement, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed his condolences regarding the accident and called on authorities to take all necessary actions to rescue those trapped. President Masoud Pezeshkian also conveyed his sympathies to the victims’ families and initiated an inquiry into the incident before departing for the UN General Assembly in New York.
The authorities have announced three days of public mourning in the eastern province. Local prosecutor Ali Nesaei mentioned that gas accumulation in the mine was complicating rescue efforts.
Last year, a methane leak explosion in a coal mine in Damghan resulted in six fatalities. In May 2021, two miners died due to a collapse at the same location. A previous disaster in 2017 in Azad Shahr city led to the deaths of 43 miners, stirring public outrage towards officials.
Iran possesses around 1.5 billion tonnes of proven coal reserves, according to state media. The Tabas mine, covering over 30,000 square kilometres (nearly 11,600 square miles), is renowned for its extensive reserves of coking and thermal coal, making it one of the richest coal areas in Iran.