At least 30 individuals have lost their lives and 17 others sustained injuries following a methane leak that triggered an explosion at a coal mine in eastern Iran, according to reports from state media.
An additional 24 miners are feared to be trapped inside the mine after the explosion occurred in Tabas, located approximately 335 miles southeast of the capital city, Tehran.
The government-affiliated IRNA news agency indicated that emergency personnel have been dispatched to the site.
Approximately 70 workers were present at the mine at the time of the explosion, which took place late Saturday.
It remains uncertain whether any miners are still trapped within the structure.
Iran’s newly appointed president Masoud Pezeshkian, who is preparing to embark on a trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, has instructed that every possible effort be made to rescue those trapped and support their families.
He also announced that an investigation into the incident has commenced.
This incident marks yet another tragedy within Iran’s mining sector.
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The scene outside the mine post-explosion. Pic: AP
In 2017, a coal mine explosion resulted in the deaths of at least 42 individuals, while two separate mining accidents in 2013 claimed the lives of 11 workers.
Negligent safety protocols and insufficient emergency response services in mining regions are frequently cited as contributing factors to the tragic fatalities.
Iran consumes approximately 3.5 million tons of coal each year but extracts only around 1.8 million tons from its mines annually. The surplus is imported, primarily utilized in the nation’s steel production facilities.
