A gas leak explosion at an Iranian coal mine has resulted in the deaths of at least 51 people, according to state media reports on Sunday.
This incident at the Tabas mine in eastern Iran is one of the deadliest workplace accidents in recent years.
The official IRNA news agency revised the initial death toll from 30 to 51, noting that 20 others sustained injuries.
The explosion occurred around 9:00 PM local time on Saturday while approximately 70 workers were present. A methane gas leak is believed to have triggered the blast, affecting two sections of the mine, which is operated by the private Iranian company Madanjoo.
State television aired footage showing ambulances and helicopters arriving at the site to transport the injured to hospitals.
Additional online videos from IRNA depicted the bodies of victims, still in their work uniforms, being removed from the site using mining carts.
South Khorasan Governor Javad Ghenaat reported that rescue teams were actively working to recover the remaining bodies. Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, who was heading to Tabas, indicated that “gas condensation” was likely the cause of the explosion.
Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and called for an investigation into the tragedy.
“We learned of the accident at one of the coal mines in Tabas, where several of our compatriots lost their lives. I offer my condolences to their grieving families,” he stated before departing for the UN General Assembly in New York.
His first vice president, Mohammad Reza Aref, held meetings with cabinet members to ensure emergency responses and support for those affected. Local media reported that authorities have declared three days of public mourning in South Khorasan province.
Ongoing search and rescue operations are focusing on the mine, where some workers remain trapped. These individuals are reportedly located about 250 meters (820 feet) underground, hindered by chambers filled with concentrated methane gas.
Local prosecutor Ali Nesaei mentioned that “gas accumulation in the mine” has complicated rescue efforts, prioritizing aid for the injured and recovery of those trapped.
Negligence on the part of relevant personnel will be examined later, Nesaei added. Previous incidents include a 2022 explosion in a northern coal mine that claimed six lives and a 2017 blast that killed 43 miners, which led to significant public outcry.
Iran possesses approximately 1.5 billion tonnes of proven coal reserves and the Tabas mine is noted as the richest and largest coal area in the country, covering over 30,000 square kilometers (nearly 11,600 square miles).
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