A devastating explosion caused by a gas leak at the Tabas coal mine in eastern Iran has claimed the lives of at least 51 workers, marking one of the country’s deadliest workplace accidents in recent years.
According to Iran’s state media, the blast occurred at approximately 9:00 pm local time on Saturday due to a methane gas leak in two sections of the mine, which is owned by the private Iranian firm, Madanjoo.
Around 70 workers were on site at the time of the explosion.
In addition to the 51 fatalities, at least 20 others were injured, with ambulances and helicopters arriving to transport the injured to hospitals.
Rescue teams are still working to recover the remaining bodies. South Khorasan Governor Javad Ghenaat and Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni are leading efforts to assess the situation, with initial reports suggesting that “gas condensation” may have been the cause of the deadly explosion.
Footage from the site shared by state media showed emergency teams in action, as well as mining carts being used to carry the bodies of victims still wearing their work uniforms.
Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, in remarks carried by state TV before departing for the UN General Assembly in New York, expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and ordered an investigation into the incident.
“Unfortunately, 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,” Pezeshkian said.
His first vice president, Mohammad Reza Aref, held discussions with cabinet members to ensure “emergency follow-up” and support for the victims and their families, according to IRNA.
Iran’s Red Crescent said search and rescue operations were ongoing at the mine, where some workers remained trapped.
According to IRNA, the trapped workers were located about 250 metres (820 feet) below the surface, cut off from rescuers by chambers filled with concentrated methane gas.
“Gas accumulation in the mine” has complicated search efforts, local prosecutor Ali Nesaei told IRNA.
“Currently, the priority is to aid the injured and retrieve people from under the rubble,” Nesaei added.
He also noted that “negligence and fault by the relevant personnel will be addressed” later.
Last year, an explosion at a coal mine in the northern city of Damghan claimed six lives, also likely due to a methane leak, according to local reports.
In May 2021, two miners were killed in a collapse at the same site, local media reported at the time.
