Iran coal mine blast death toll climbs to 51

A gas explosion in a coal mine in Iran’s South Khorasan province claimed the lives of at least 51 people and injured 20 others.

The blast, which occurred around 9 p.m. local time on September 21, was reportedly caused by a methane gas leak in blocks B and C of the mine operated by the Madanjoo company, Caliber.Az reports via Iranian media.

The coal mine is situated in Tabas, approximately 540 kilometres southeast of Tehran.

South Khorasan Governor Ali Akbar Rahimi said that the region supplies about 76 per cent of the country’s coal, with several large companies, including Madanjoo, working there. He noted that rescue operations in block B were completed, but work continued in block C due to high methane levels. The operation could take another 3-4 hours, Rahimi added.

Several workers are still missing and feared trapped, according to Iran's Red Crescent.

President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his condolences and assured that rescue efforts and support for the families were ongoing, just before departing for the United Nations General Assembly in New York. An investigation into the explosion is underway.

Iran’s mining industry has seen similar tragedies in the past, including a 2017 blast that killed 42 people and two incidents in 2013 that claimed the lives of 11 workers. Lax safety standards and inadequate emergency services in mining areas have previously been cited as contributing factors.

Despite Iran’s vast mineral wealth, the country extracts only 1.8 million tonnes of coal annually, importing the rest to meet its demand of 3.5 million tonnes, primarily for steel production.