Key Factors
- Fifty-one individuals have been killed in an explosion at an Iranian coal mine.
- State media mentioned a methane fuel leak led to the blast in two of the mine’s blocks, the place practically 70 individuals have been working.
- Twenty individuals have reportedly been injured, and Iran’s Crimson Crescent mentioned search and rescue operations have been underway.
A blast attributable to a fuel leak at an Iranian coal mine has killed at the least 51 individuals, state media mentioned, in one of many nation’s deadliest work accidents in years.
“The variety of lifeless staff elevated to 51” within the explosion on the Tabas mine in japanese Iran, the official IRNA information company reported on Sunday, revising an earlier loss of life toll of 30.
It added that 20 different individuals have been injured.
The explosion occurred at round 9pm on Saturday native time (3.30am Sunday AEST), when round 70 staff have been current on the website in South Khorasan province, state information company IRNA mentioned.
Iran’s Crimson Crescent mentioned search and rescue operations have been nonetheless underway within the mine, the place some staff remained trapped. Supply: AAP / Iranian Crimson Crescent Society
In accordance with the report, a leak of methane fuel led to the blast in two blocks of the mine, which is owned by non-public Iranian agency Madanjoo.
State TV broadcast footage of ambulances and helicopters arriving at Tabas to move the injured to hospital.
On-line footage shared by IRNA confirmed our bodies of among the victims, sporting their work uniform, carried out of the positioning on mining carts.
South Khorasan governor Javad Ghenaat instructed state TV that rescue groups have been working to get well the remaining our bodies.
President presents condolences
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, in remarks reported by state TV earlier than departing for the UN Basic Meeting in New York, supplied his condolences to the households of the victims and ordered an investigation into the lethal incident.
“Sadly, we discovered that an accident occurred in one of many coal mines in Tabas and various our compatriots misplaced their lives. I supply my condolences to their revered households,” Pezeshkian mentioned.
His first vice chairman, Mohammad Reza Aref, spoke with cupboard members to make sure “emergency follow-up” and assist for the victims and their households, IRNA mentioned.
Iran’s Crimson Crescent mentioned search and rescue operations have been underway within the mine, the place some staff remained trapped.
Practically 70 staff have been within the sections of the mine the place the explosion occurred. Supply: AAP / Iranian Crimson Crescent Society
In accordance with IRNA, they have been about 250m beneath the floor, lower off from rescuers by chambers that had crammed up with concentrated methane fuel.
“Gasoline accumulation within the mine” has made the search operations troublesome, native prosecutor Ali Nesaei was quoted by IRNA as saying.
“Presently, the precedence is to supply assist to the injured and pull individuals from underneath the rubble,” Nesaei mentioned.
He added that “the negligence and fault of the related brokers will probably be handled” afterward.
A historical past of lethal mine incidents
Final yr, an explosion at a coal mine within the northern metropolis of Damghan killed six individuals, additionally doubtless the results of methane leak, in line with native media.
In Might 2021, two miners died in a collapse on the similar website, native media reported on the time.
A blast in 2017 killed 43 miners within the northern Iranian metropolis of Azad Shahr metropolis, triggering anger towards Iranian authorities.
Mineral-rich Iran has round 1.5 billion tons of confirmed coal reserves, in line with state media.
The Tabas mine covers an space of greater than 30,000 sq. kilometres and holds mass reserves of coking and thermal coal, in line with IRNA.
It’s “thought-about the richest and largest coal space in Iran,” IRNA mentioned.