At least 30 miners have been killed and more than 20 others are still missing after a methane gas explosion at a coal mine in eastern Iran, according to state media reports on Sunday.
According to the AFP, the explosion occurred at around 9:00 pm on Saturday at the Tabas coal mine in South Khorasan province.
“The death toll in the Tabas mine accident has risen to 30,” the state-run IRNA news agency reported, revising an earlier figure of 19.
Javad Ghenaat, the governor of South Khorasan, said rescue teams were urgently working to locate the 22 miners still trapped underground.
“Rescue operations are ongoing, but the accumulation of gas in the mine is complicating the search efforts,” he told state television.
Seventeen other workers sustained injuries from the explosion, which occurred while 69 miners were on-site.
The blast, believed to have been caused by a methane gas leak, struck two sections of the mine, leaving rescue teams struggling against hazardous conditions.
Footage aired on state TV showed ambulances and helicopters arriving at the scene, with injured miners being transported to nearby hospitals. In other videos shared by IRNA, the bodies of miners were seen being pulled out on mining carts.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his sorrow over the tragedy before departing for the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“Unfortunately, we have lost several of our compatriots in this accident. I extend my deepest condolences to the victims’ families,” he said on state television.
Meanwhile, Iran’s first vice president, Mohammad Reza Aref, said the government was mobilizing to provide immediate support. “Cabinet members have been instructed to ensure emergency follow-up and assistance to the affected families,” IRNA reported.
Local authorities said an investigation into the cause of the explosion is underway, with the provincial prosecutor, Ali Nesaei, vowing accountability if any negligence is found.
“Our first priority is rescuing those trapped and assisting the injured. Any fault or negligence will be thoroughly investigated later,” he said.
