A devastating gas explosion at a coal mine in Iran’s South Khorasan province has killed at least 51 people and left 20 others injured, according to state media reports and Hotnews.
Key Part of Coal Industry
The explosion occurred on Saturday at 9:00 p.m. local time, when methane gas ignited in two sections of the mine, owned by the Madanjoo Company.
The mine is a key contributor to Iran’s coal industry, providing 76% of the country's coal production. Eight of the ten largest coal companies in Iran operate in the region, including Madanjoo.
Speaking on state television, provincial governor Ali Akbar Rahimi confirmed the details of the disaster and offered updates on the rescue efforts.
Rescue Operations
Rahimi announced that rescue operations in Section B, where 47 miners were working at the time of the explosion, have concluded.
Tragically, 30 workers were killed, and 17 were injured in this section. Rescue teams have now shifted their focus to Section C, where the concentration of methane gas remains dangerously high.
This rescue mission is expected to last another three to four hours. Rahimi noted that 69 workers were present in Section C during the explosion.
According to the Iranian Red Crescent, 17 injured miners were transported to nearby hospitals, and 24 workers remain missing. President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.
