An explosion at a coal mine in eastern Iran has resulted in the deaths of at least 51 workers, according to state media reports on Sunday. The incident occurred due to a methane gas leak at the Madanjoo mine in South Khorasan province, located approximately 540 kilometers (335 miles) southeast of Tehran. More than 20 others were reported injured in the blast.
The explosion took place at around 21:00 local time (17:30 GMT) on Saturday. South Khorasan’s governor, Javad Ghenaatzadeh, revealed that 69 workers were present in two sections of the mine at the time. Specifically, 22 workers were in Block C and 47 in Block B. Authorities are currently assessing how many individuals remain trapped inside the mine, but initial reports suggest the situation may be dire.
State media initially reported 30 fatalities, but this number has since been revised upward. The official IRNA news agency indicated that the death toll had risen to 51, while the number of injured had also increased to 20. Citing Iran’s Red Crescent, state television reported that 24 individuals are still unaccounted for.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian extended his condolences to the families of the victims and assured the public that the government would provide necessary support in the aftermath of the disaster. “I spoke with ministers and we will do our best to follow up,” Pezeshkian stated during a televised address.
The Tabas mine, known as the largest and richest coal area in Iran, spans over 30,000 square kilometers (nearly 11,600 square miles) and contains significant reserves of both coking and thermal coal. However, local prosecutor Ali Nesaei noted that the accumulation of gas in the mine has complicated rescue operations.
“The priority is to provide aid to the injured and recover individuals from under the rubble,” Nesaei said. He also indicated that any negligence or fault by responsible parties would be addressed at a later time.
This tragedy is not the first of its kind in Iran’s mining sector. A previous explosion in 2022 in the northern city of Damghan claimed six lives, while a collapse at the same site in 2021 resulted in the deaths of two miners. A particularly devastating incident in 2017 killed 43 miners in Azad Shahr, sparking public outrage against Iranian authorities.
As search and rescue efforts continue, the nation mourns the loss of lives in what is being described as one of the deadliest mining disasters in recent history.
