TEHRAN: A blast caused by a gas leak at the Tabas coal mine in eastern Iran has killed at least 51 mine workers, state media reported on Sunday, in one of the country’s deadliest workplace accidents in recent years.
State media reported the tragic incident occurred on Saturday night around 9:00 PM local time, when approximately 70 workers were present at the site in South Khorasan province.
“The number of dead workers increased to 51” in the gas leakage blast at the Tabas mine, the official IRNA news agency reported, revising an earlier death toll of 30.
According to the official IRNA news agency, the explosion was caused by a methane gas leak that exploded in two blocks of the mine, which is operated by the private Iranian firm Madanjoo.
The initial death toll was reported to be around 30 but was later revised as rescue teams continued their operations. In addition to the fatalities, at least 20 other workers sustained injuries.
State television aired footage showing ambulances and helicopters dispatched to the scene to assist with the evacuation of the injured to local hospitals. Images circulating online showed the bodies of some victims, still in their work uniforms, being transported out of the mine on mining carts.
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South Khorasan’s governor, Javad Ghenaat, confirmed that rescue teams were working to recover the remaining bodies from the mine, where conditions have become perilous due to ongoing gas accumulation.
According to local prosecutor Ali Nesaei, some workers are still believed to be trapped approximately 250 meters (820 feet) below the surface, cut off by chambers filled with methane.
“The current priority is to provide aid to the injured and pull people from under the rubble,” Nesaei stated, assuring that the accountability for the negligence leading to the disaster would be addressed in due time.
In a statement carried by state TV before his departure for the UN General Assembly in New York, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian extended his condolences to the victims’ families and ordered an investigation into the deadly explosion.
He expressed sorrow over the loss of life, saying, “Unfortunately, we learned that an accident occurred in one of the coal mines in Tabas, and a number of our compatriots lost their lives.”
His first vice president, Mohammad Reza Aref, held discussions with cabinet members to ensure emergency response and support for the victims’ families, as reported by IRNA.
The Tabas mine, noted for being one of the richest coal areas in Iran, spans over 30,000 square kilometers (nearly 11,600 square miles) and is home to significant reserves of coking and thermal coal.
