At least 51 Iranian miners died due to a fatal explosion at an eastern Iran coal mine attributed to a gas leak, one of the deadliest occupational fatalities in Iran in recent times. The tragedy left the country aghast and will lead to calls for increased safety in Iran’s mining sectors.
Death Toll Climbs to 51
According to the country’s official Iranian news agency, IRNA, confirmed fatalities have increased to 51, from an earlier count of 30. Apart from the casualties, at least 20 miners suffered injuries. The explosion occurred Saturday around 9 p.m. local time at the mine located in South Khorasan province.Cause of the Explosion: Methane Gas Leak
Gas leakage ignites an explosion that shells into two blocks of the private Iranian company Madanjoo, which was mining at the time. Around 70 workers were present when the explosion happened. Hazardous conditions were created by the gas buildup, making it challenging to rescue trapped workers due to emergency responders not being able to access the site.Rescuers face a challenge because of gas accumulation in the mine
Rescue operations have been hindered by the concentration of methane gas inside the mine. According to local officials, at least several miners were left trapped 250 meters beneath the surface. The rooms where they are trapped are filled with the concentrated gas, which makes rescuing them more difficult.
Emergency Response and Iranian Leaders Condolence
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condoled with the families affected by the accident and left for New York to address the UN General Assembly before the accident happened. He has instructed an immediate investigation to know the causes that led to the fatal accident. In the meantime, Iran’s Red Crescent and rescue teams are continuing with the search and rescue operations.First VP Mohammad Reza Aref also met with ministers and assured there be an “emergency follow-up” in supporting the victims’ families as well as investigating the incident.
Search and Rescue Operations Continue.
The authorities and rescue teams are doing their best to retrieve all the bodies of the miners who are still untraced and to help those who are injured. Local prosecutor Ali Nesaei announced that those responsible for negligence will be brought to court but emphasized that rescuing the remaining trapped workers is a priority.
Incidents at Iranian Mines in the Past
Accidents that have taken lives in Iran due to mining activities are not a new thing. Last year, when gas exploded at a coal mine in Damghan, the life of six people was lost. An explosion in another coal mine killed 43 miners at Azad Shahr back in 2017, which had the whole public in an uproar.
Iran hosts some 1.5 billion tons of coal reserves due to its rich mineral lands. More than 30,000 square kilometers of the Tabas coal mine is considered one of the country’s largest coal deposit holdings.
