Iran announced that it believes the remaining workers trapped by a coal mine explosion in the eastern region have perished, raising the death toll in one of the country’s worst industrial disasters to at least 49.
Mohammad Ali Akhoundi, a provincial emergency official, reported the death toll via Iranian state television following the explosion at the Tabas coal mine.
The number of miners present at the time of the explosion has varied, but it is estimated that around 70 workers were inside when a methane gas leak ignited a blast in Tabas, located approximately 540 kilometers (335 miles) southeast of Tehran.
So far, the bodies recovered show no signs of blast injuries, indicating that many miners likely succumbed to gas exposure prior to the explosion. While methane is a known hazard in mining, modern safety protocols require effective ventilation and other protective measures for workers.
Details regarding the safety procedures in place at the privately-owned Tabas Parvadeh 5 mine, operated by Mandanjoo Co., remain unclear, as the company has not responded to inquiries. However, a member of the parliament’s mine committee revealed that the mine’s safety systems were nonfunctional, stating, “even the central alarm system was broken or nonexistent.”
Lawmaker Zahra Saeedi noted that workers had become aware of the safety issues just before the disaster but were unable to evacuate in time. Among the deceased were two health and safety experts working at the mine.
Iran’s reformist president, Masoud Pezeshkian, who is attending the U.N. General Assembly in New York, stated that all possible efforts are being made to rescue those trapped and support their families. He confirmed that an investigation into the explosion is currently underway.
The Iranian mining industry has a history of disasters. In 2017, a coal mine explosion claimed at least 42 lives, leading to protests from angry miners against then-President Hassan Rouhani. In previous years, several incidents resulted in multiple fatalities, often attributed to lax safety standards and insufficient emergency services in mining regions.
