A rescue effort is currently in progress as 17 miners are believed to be trapped in the tunnels of a coal mine in Tabas, eastern Iran, following a devastating explosion. The incident, which occurred on Saturday night, has resulted in at least 52 fatalities and left 17 others injured, marking it as one of the worst mining disasters in Iran’s history.
Search and rescue teams are also working to locate 11 miners who are missing and presumed trapped at a depth of 200 meters below the surface. Video footage shared online shows grieving miners standing next to mine cars that were used to recover the bodies of their fallen colleagues, all covered in coal dust.
At the time of the explosion, approximately 70 workers were present in the mine. Initial reports indicated that 17 miners were trapped in a 700-meter tunnel, but the situation has been fluid, with the death toll fluctuating throughout Sunday. Authorities have attributed the blast to a methane gas leak, a known risk in mining operations. Despite advancements in safety protocols, such as improved ventilation, it remains unclear what specific measures were implemented at the privately-owned Mandanjoo Company, which operates the Tabas Parvadeh 5 mine.
Iran’s reformist President, Masoud Pezeshkian, who is preparing to attend the U.N. General Assembly in New York, has ordered that all efforts be directed towards rescuing those trapped and supporting their families. An investigation into the cause of the explosion has also been initiated. “I have instructed the ministers of health, interior, and security to ensure that the needs of the victims’ families are addressed promptly,” Pezeshkian stated.
Iran’s mining industry has a troubling history of disasters. In 2017, a coal mine explosion claimed at least 42 lives, sparking public outrage. In prior years, multiple incidents have led to significant fatalities, often attributed to lax safety standards and insufficient emergency response in mining regions.
Iran, rich in various minerals, consumes approximately 3.5 million tons of coal annually but only extracts about 1.8 million tons domestically, with the remainder being imported for use in its steel mills.
