TEHRAN, Iran — A methane leak sparked an explosion at a coal mine in eastern Iran, killing at least 19 people and injuring another 17, Iranian state television reported Sunday. Some miners are believed to be trapped inside.
The report said the deaths happened at a coal mine in Tabas, some 540 kilometers (335 miles) southeast of the capital, Tehran.
Authorities were sending emergency personnel to the area after the blast late Saturday, it said. Around 70 people had been working there at the time of the blast. It remains unclear how many remain trapped in the mine.
Iran’s new reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, preparing to travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, said he ordered all efforts be made to rescue those trapped and aid their families. He also said an investigation into the incident had begun.
Oil-producing Iran is also rich in a variety of minerals. Iran annually consumes some 3.5 million tons of coal but only extracts about 1.8 million tons from its mines per year. The rest is imported, often consumed in the country’s steel mills.
This is not the first disaster to strike Iran’s mining industry. In 2013, 11 workers were killed in two separate mining incidents. In 2009, 20 workers were killed in several incidents. In 2017, a coal mine explosion killed at least 42 people.
Lax safety standards and inadequate emergency services in mining areas are often blamed for the fatalities.
State TV in Iran has reported that a methane leak caused an explosion at an eastern Iran coal mine, resulting in at least 19 fatalities. The incident occurred in the Zemestanyurt coal mine in the province of Golestan, near the city of Azadshahr.
The explosion is believed to have been triggered by a build-up of methane gas in the mine, which is a common occurrence in coal mines around the world. Methane is a highly flammable gas that can be released during the mining process, and if not properly ventilated, it can accumulate in dangerous concentrations.
The explosion at the Zemestanyurt coal mine is a tragic reminder of the dangers that miners face every day. Mining is a hazardous occupation, with risks ranging from cave-ins and explosions to exposure to toxic gases and dust. In Iran, where safety regulations may not always be strictly enforced, miners are particularly vulnerable to accidents and injuries.
The Iranian government has launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion at the Zemestanyurt coal mine, and officials have promised to take action to prevent similar incidents in the future. The mine has been temporarily closed while the investigation is ongoing.
In the meantime, rescue teams are working to recover the bodies of the miners who were killed in the explosion. The death toll is expected to rise as more bodies are discovered in the rubble of the collapsed mine shafts.
This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of workplace safety in the mining industry. Employers must ensure that proper safety measures are in place to protect their workers from harm, and governments must enforce regulations to hold companies accountable for any lapses in safety protocols.
Our thoughts are with the families of the miners who lost their lives in this devastating explosion. May their memories be honored, and may their deaths serve as a catalyst for change in the mining industry to prevent future tragedies.
