Gas Explosion At Iranian Coal Mine Kills 51, Injures 20

An explosion caused by a gas leak at a coal mine in South Khorasan province, eastern Iran, has claimed the lives of at least 51 people, state media reported on Sunday.

The blast, which occured on Saturday evening, injured more than 20 others.

The explosion, believed to have been triggered by a methane gas buildup, took place in two blocks of the Madanjoo mine in Tabas, approximately 540 km (335 miles) southeast of Tehran.

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At the time of the incident, 69 workers were inside the affected blocks, according to South Khorasan’s governor, Javad Ghenaatzadeh.

Authorities initially reported 30 fatalities, but the death toll has since been revised to 51. The search for survivors continues, though it remains unclear how many workers are still trapped inside the mine. Gas accumulation has complicated rescue operations, according to local prosecutor Ali Nesaei.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian extended his condolences to the victims’ families and vowed to follow up on the situation. The Tabas mine, spanning over 30,000 square kilometers (nearly 11,600 square miles), is one of Iran’s largest coal reserves.