Dozens killed in Iran coal mine explosion

An explosion at the Tabas coal mine in Iran's South Khorasan province has resulted in the deaths of 30 individuals, with 17 others injured.

The chairman of the Red Crescent Society reported that efforts to locate 24 missing workers are ongoing, while the injured have been hospitalized, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

The explosion was caused by a methane leak in blocks B and C of the mine, which is operated by Medanci Company. At the time of the incident, there were 69 workers present in those blocks.

President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his condolences to the victims' families, stating, “I spoke with ministers, and we will do our best to follow up,” during televised remarks.

Iran, a major oil producer, is also rich in various minerals. The country consumes approximately 3.5 million tons of coal annually but only extracts about 1.8 million tons from its mines, relying on imports to meet demand, particularly for its steel mills.

This tragedy is not an isolated incident in Iran’s mining sector. Previous disasters include a 2013 incident that claimed 11 lives, a series of accidents in 2009 that killed 20 workers, and a 2017 explosion that resulted in at least 42 fatalities. Lax safety standards and inadequate emergency services are frequently cited as contributing factors to these fatalities.