A tragic methane gas explosion at a coal mine in Iran’s South Khorasan Province has resulted in at least 51 fatalities and 20 injuries, according to state media reports on Sunday. The incident occurred in two sections of the mine operated by the Madanjoo company.
The explosion, which took place around 9 p.m. on Saturday, affected blocks B and C of the mine, which is a significant source of coal for the country, supplying approximately 76% of Iran’s coal. Ali Akbar Rahimi, the governor of South Khorasan Province, confirmed that 69 workers were present in the affected blocks at the time of the explosion.
Rescue operations in block B have concluded, with 30 out of the 47 workers in that section confirmed dead, while 17 others sustained injuries. Meanwhile, rescue efforts in block C are ongoing, although the high concentration of methane gas is complicating the operation. Authorities estimate that it will take an additional 3 to 4 hours to complete the rescue in that section.
As of now, 24 individuals remain unaccounted for. The Iranian Red Crescent reported that the 17 injured workers were promptly transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
President Masoud Pezeshkian extended his condolences to the families of the victims and pledged that the government would take necessary steps to address the situation. “I spoke with ministers and we will do our best to follow up,” he stated during a televised address.
The disaster has raised serious concerns about safety protocols in Iran’s mining industry, which has a history of accidents due to insufficient safety measures and poor enforcement of regulations. The government is under pressure to investigate the incident thoroughly and prevent future occurrences.
Sources By Agencies
