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At least 51 workers died and more than a dozen others were injured following an explosion at a coal mine in Tabas, eastern Iran.
According to reports, “70 miners were present on the site before the explosion.”
Heart-rending scenes were reported, with colleagues in tears awaiting the return of the bodies, all covered in coal dust.
The authorities announced that 17 people would probably be trapped at a depth of 200 meters in a 700-meter tunnel. Casualty figures varied throughout the day, with some reports suggesting an even higher death toll.
The explosion is believed to have been caused by a methane gas leak, a common hazard in mining operations, which makes it all the more important to comply with rigorous safety standards, including adequate ventilation.
Iran, rich in mineral resources and an oil producer, consumes around 3.5 million tons of coal a year, but only extracts 1.8 million tons locally, the rest being imported, mainly to fuel its steel mills.
