Methane Leak Triggers One of Iran’s Deadliest Mining Disasters in Recent Years
Tabas, Iran – A devastating explosion at a coal mine in eastern Iran has left at least 51 workers dead and 20 others injured, according to state media. The blast, caused by a methane gas leak, occurred late Saturday at the Tabas mine in South Khorasan province.
Rescue operations are ongoing as workers remain trapped approximately 250 meters below the surface. The Red Crescent and local authorities are racing against time to retrieve the remaining bodies.
Footage aired by state TV showed rescue helicopters and ambulances at the scene, while victims were seen being pulled from the rubble. Officials have blamed gas condensation for the deadly blast.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed his condolences, urging authorities to spare no effort in the rescue efforts. The government has declared three days of public mourning in the region.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is en route to the UN General Assembly, promised an inquiry into the incident. This tragedy follows a series of similar accidents in the country’s mining industry, with past explosions in 2017 and 2021 causing significant casualties.
Local officials cited gas accumulation as the primary challenge in the search and rescue efforts, while legal action against those responsible for safety failures will be pursued once the immediate crisis is handled.
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