According to reports, a methane gas explosion in a coal mine in the Tabas area of South Khorasan Province, Iran, killed 28 people on September 22, 2024, and rescue teams subsequently launched a rescue operation.
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A gas explosion occurred at a coal mine in Iran's South Khorasan Province, killing at least 51 people and injuring 20 others, state media said on Sunday.
State media said the accident was caused by a methane gas explosion in blocks B and C of the mine operated by Madanjoo.
Ali Akbar Rahimi, the governor of South Khorasan province, told state television on Sunday: “The region provides 76 percent of the country's coal and about eight to 10 big companies are in the region. operations, including Madanjoo Corporation.
The rescue work in Area B has been completed. Rahimi earlier said 30 of the 47 workers in the block were killed and 17 injured.
Rescue operations in Area C have begun. He added that the methane density in the block is very high and the operation will take about 3-4 hours.
According to state television, 69 workers were in the block at the time of the explosion.
Earlier on Sunday, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society said that “17 injured people have been sent to hospital and 24 people are still missing.”
State media said the blast occurred at 9pm (1730 GMT) on Saturday.
President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. “I spoke with the ministers and we will try to follow up,” Pezeshkian said in televised comments.