A gas explosion at a coal mine in eastern Iran has claimed the lives of at least 51 people, state media reported on Sunday. The blast, which occurred in South Khorasan province, left more than 20 others injured. The explosion, caused by a methane gas leak, took place at the Madanjoo mine in Tabas, about 540 km (335 miles) southeast of Tehran, around 9:00 PM local time on Saturday.
At the time of the explosion, 69 workers were inside two blocks of the mine. South Khorasan’s governor, Javad Ghenaatzadeh, confirmed that 22 workers were in Block C and 47 in Block B. It remains unclear how many survivors may still be trapped underground.
Initial reports indicated 30 fatalities, but the death toll was revised to 51 as rescue efforts continued. State TV cited the head of Iran’s Red Crescent, reporting that 24 workers were initially missing.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian extended his condolences to the victims’ families and pledged that the government would prioritize rescue operations. Local prosecutor Ali Nesaei indicated that the gas accumulation inside the mine had complicated search efforts and promised that any negligence would be investigated.
The Tabas mine is known to be one of the largest coal reserves in Iran. This incident follows previous mine accidents in the country, including a 2017 blast that killed 43 miners in Azad Shahr and a 2021 collapse that claimed two lives at the same mine in Tabas.
