In eastern Iran, the largest coal mine explosion in the country’s history occurred. At least 33 people lost their lives, 17 suffered injuries and others remained missing for hours after the blast.
The explosion occurred on Saturday night at a coal mine in Tabas, about 540 kilometres southeast of the capital Tehran. About 70 people were working at the time of the blast. State television later said 17 people trapped 200 metres deep in a 700-metre tunnel. Figures of casualties in the blast kept changing throughout Sunday regarding the disaster in the rural area.
Officials stated the explosion was due to a methane leak, as such gases are common in the mining industry, although modern safety measures require ventilation and other measures to protect workers. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said:
I spoke with the ministers of health, interior and security and ordered that the issues of the families of the victims and the injured be quickly resolved. I also requested to take measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents by improving work standards in the country’s mines.
Iran’s mining industry has faced disasters before. In 2017, a coal mine explosion killed at least 42 people. In 2013, 11 workers died in two separate mine incidents. In 2009, 20 workers died in several incidents. Poor safety standards and unprofessional emergency services in mining areas were often considered to be the causes of fatalities.
