Tragic Explosion at Iranian Coal Mine: Death Toll Rises

On Monday, the death toll from a coal mine explosion in Tabas, Iran, rose to at least 38. Another 14 miners remain trapped. The explosion, which occurred due to a methane gas leak, has sparked investigations and prompted new safety measures. Iran's mining industry has a history of similar disasters.

Rescuers on Monday recovered more bodies following an explosion at a coal mine in eastern Iran, marking a tragic rise in the death toll to at least 38. Officials reported that another 14 miners are still believed to be trapped underground.

The devastating blast hit the coal mine in Tabas, located approximately 540 km southeast of Tehran, on Saturday night. Heartbroken miners stood by as mine cars brought up the bodies of their colleagues, all covered in coal dust.

The state-run IRNA news agency confirmed the updated death toll and the number of missing miners on Monday. Survivors, still marked by coal dust, described chaotic scenes immediately after the explosion.

One unidentified miner recounted to Iranian state television, "We were in the mine, working. Suddenly there was some smoke rising...then I noticed I had difficulty breathing. I jumped off from the workshop and scrambled until I reached somewhere safe. My friends remained in there." Authorities attributed the explosion to a sudden methane gas leak. They noted that preliminary gas checks had not indicated any issues prior to the blast. Bodies recovered so far appeared free of blast injuries, suggesting gas inhalation as the primary cause of death.

Methane gas hazards are well-known in the mining industry, where modern safety standards typically mandate proper ventilation and other protective measures for workers. However, it remains unclear what safety protocols were in place at the privately-owned Tabas Parvadeh 5 mine, operated by Mandanjoo Co.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, poised for travel to New York for the UN General Assembly, announced on Sunday that he had ordered all necessary efforts for rescue operations and family support. An investigation into the cause of the explosion is underway.

Pezeshkian stated, "I spoke with the ministers of health, interior, and security and ordered that the issues of the victims' families and the injured be quickly resolved. I also requested measures to prevent such incidents by improving work standards in the country's mines." Iran's mining sector has faced previous disasters, including a 2017 explosion that killed at least 42 people. Lax safety standards and inadequate emergency response in mining areas are often cited as factors in these fatalities.

Notably rich in minerals, oil-producing Iran consumes around 3.5 million tons of coal annually but extracts only about half that amount domestically, relying on imports for the remainder, primarily for its steel mills.

(With inputs from agencies.)