TABAS, IRAN – A catastrophic coal mine explosion reported in eastern Iran on Sunday has resulted in at least 34 fatalities, with 17 more people nursing wound injuries, as per official sources. The incident, among the deadliest mining accidents in the country’s history, continues to keep others listed as missing for several hours post-disaster.
The deadly explosion occurred in the coal mine in Tabas, located approximately 540 kilometers southeast of Tehran, Iran’s capital, on Saturday night. The following day, distraught miners stood alongside the grim cargo of mine cars ferrying the lifeless bodies of their associates, all shrouded in coal dust.
It is estimated that around 70 laborers had been on-site at the moment of the explosion. However, there appear to be inconsistencies in the disaster numbers. Reports told of 17 individuals feared to be contained roughly 200 meters deep down a 700-meter-long tunnel. Throughout Sunday, these figures variated, leaving questions about the precise fatality toll.
Speaking on Sunday afternoon, Mohammad Ali Akhoundi, a provincial emergency official, stated that the body count had touched a minimum of 34, simultaneously carrying out ceaseless efforts to rescue those suspected to be trapped underground.
Survivors painted a picture of the post-explosion disorder. Officials traced the explosion’s origins to a leak of methane gas, a common risk in mining. Safety measures today dictate adequate ventilation and related protections for the workforce.
President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered that top priority be given to rescuing those still trapped and assisting their families. A probe into the explosion has also been kickstarted. Despite this, the Iranian mining industry has witnessed similar tragedies in the past, mainly due to lax safety standards and lacking emergency services.