A gas explosion in a coalmine in Iran’s South Khorasan province has killed at least 51 people and injured 20, Iran’s state media said.
The accident was caused by a methane gas explosion in two blocks, B and C, of the mine run by the Madanjoo company, state media said on Sunday.
The governor of South Khorasan province, Ali Akbar Rahimi, told state TV: “Seventy-six per cent of the country’s coal is provided from this region and around eight to 10 big companies are working in the region, including Madanjoo company.”
The rescue operation in block B has reportedly been completed. Of the 47 workers who were in the block, 30 died and 17 were injured, Rahimi said.
Rescue operations in block C have started. Methane density in the block is high and the operation will take about three to four hours, he added.
There were 69 workers in the blocks at the time of the explosion, state TV reported.
“Seventeen injured people were transported to the hospital and 24 people are still missing,” it said earlier on Sunday, citing the head of Iran’s Red Crescent.
The explosion occurred at 9pm local time (5.30pm GMT) on Saturday, state media said.
Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, expressed condolences to the victims’ families. “I spoke with ministers and we will do our best to follow up,” Pezeshkian said in televised comments.