Gas Leak Explosion at Iranian Coal Mine Kills 51, Injures Over 20
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed condolences to the victims' families
An explosion caused by a gas leak at a coal mine in eastern Iran has claimed the lives of at least 51 people, Iranian state media reported on Sunday.
The tragedy occurred in South Khorasan province, with more than 20 others suffering injuries.
The blast took place in two blocks of a mine in Tabas, located approximately 540 kilometres (335 miles) southeast of Tehran.
Preliminary reports indicate that the explosion was triggered by a methane gas leak.
The incident occurred at 21:00 local time (17:30 GMT) on Saturday, shaking the coal mine and causing widespread destruction.
According to South Khorasan’s governor, Javad Ghenaatzadeh, a total of 69 workers were inside the two affected blocks when the explosion erupted.
Emergency services were quick to respond, and rescue efforts have been ongoing, but the death toll is feared to rise as recovery operations continue.
According to IRNA, the Tabas mine spans over 30,000 square kilometres (nearly 11,600 square miles) and contains vast reserves of both coking and thermal coal. It is described as “the richest and largest coal area in Iran.”
“76% of the country’s coal is provided from this region and around 8 to 10 big companies are working in the region including Madanjoo company,” the governor of South Khorasan Province Ali Akbar Rahimi told state TV on Sunday.
State media quoted local prosecutor Ali Nesaei, who said that “gas accumulation in the mine” has complicated search and rescue efforts.
Nesaei emphasized that the immediate priority is to assist the injured and rescue those trapped under the debris. He also mentioned that any “negligence and fault of the responsible parties” will be addressed at a later stage.
Following the incident, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed condolences to the victims’ families.
“I spoke with ministers and we will do our best to follow up,” Pezeshkian said in televised comments.
