At least 51 people were killed, and 20 others injured in an explosion at a coal mine in eastern Iran, reportedly caused by a methane gas leak. The explosion occurred in the second and third sections of a mine operated by the Madanjoo company. Iranian state television stated that a total of 69 workers were inside these sections at the time of the explosion, which happened on Saturday around 9 PM (1730 GMT).
The deadly incident took place at a coal mine located in Tabas, about 540 kilometers southeast of Tehran. Following the explosion, emergency personnel were dispatched to the site. Iran, an oil-rich country, also holds substantial mineral resources, including coal. Despite an annual consumption of around 3.5 million tons of coal, Iran’s domestic coal production only covers 1.8 million tons, with the remainder being imported for use, primarily in steel mills.
This latest tragedy is not an isolated incident in Iran’s mining sector. In 2017, a coal mine explosion resulted in the deaths of at least 42 people. Similar mining accidents occurred in 2013 and 2009, leading to several fatalities. Safety standard negligence and insufficient emergency services in mining regions are often blamed for these recurring accidents.
