TEHRAN, Iran — Iran said Tuesday it believes the remaining workers trapped by an explosion at a coal mine in the country’s east have died, bringing the death toll in one of its worst industrial disasters to at least 49.
A provincial emergency official, Mohammad Ali Akhoundi, gave the death toll in a report carried by Iranian state television from the mine in Tabas.
Figures for the numbers of miners inside the mine at the time have fluctuated since a methane gas leak Saturday sparked an explosion at the coal mine in Tabas, about 540 kilometers (335 miles) southeast of the capital, Tehran.
Around 70 people had been working at the time of the blast. Bodies recovered so far showed no signs of blast injuries, suggesting many of the workers died from the gas before the blast.
Such gases are common in mining, though modern safety measures call for ventilation and other measures to protect workers.
It wasn’t immediately clear what safety procedures were in place at the privately owned Tabas Parvadeh 5 mine, operated by Mandanjoo Co. The firm could not be reached for comment.
On Tuesday, a lawmaker and member of parliament’s mine committee said the safety system of the mine was not working and “even the central alarm system was broke or did not exist.”
Lawmaker Zahra Saeedi added that workers learned of the safety issue just before the disaster but couldn’t leave in time. Two of the dead were health and safety experts at the mine, she said.
Iran’s new reformist president, Masoud Pezeshkian, in New York for the U.N. General Assembly, has said he ordered all efforts be made to rescue those trapped and aid their families. He also said an investigation into the explosion was underway.
Iran’s mining industry has been struck by disasters before. In 2017, a coal mine explosion killed at least 42 people. Then-President Hassan Rouhani, campaigning ahead of winning reelection, visited the site in Iran’s northern Golestan province and angry miners besieged the SUV he rode in, kicking and beating the armored vehicle in a rage.
In 2013, 11 workers were killed in two separate mining incidents. In 2009, 20 workers were killed in several incidents. Lax safety standards and inadequate emergency services in mining areas were often blamed for the fatalities.
Iran has been struck by tragedy as officials report that all remaining workers trapped in a coal mine explosion have died, bringing the death toll to a staggering 49. The incident occurred in the northern province of Golestan, where a methane gas explosion ripped through the Zemestanyurt coal mine, trapping dozens of miners underground.
Rescue efforts were launched immediately after the explosion, with emergency crews working tirelessly to reach the trapped workers. However, hopes of finding any survivors were dashed as the last remaining workers were discovered lifeless in the mine.
The explosion has raised concerns about safety standards in Iran’s mining industry, with critics pointing to a lack of proper regulations and oversight as contributing factors to the tragedy. The Zemestanyurt coal mine had reportedly been cited for safety violations in the past, but little action had been taken to address these issues.
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and has promised a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion. He has also vowed to hold those responsible for the tragedy accountable.
The devastating loss of life in the coal mine explosion serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by workers in the mining industry. It is imperative that governments and companies prioritize the safety and well-being of their workers, and take proactive measures to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
As Iran mourns the loss of 49 miners in this tragic incident, it is crucial that steps are taken to improve safety standards in the country’s mining industry and ensure that such disasters are never repeated. The families of the victims deserve justice, and it is up to authorities to ensure that those responsible for this senseless loss of life are held accountable.
