After a coal mine explosion in eastern Iran, rescuers found more remains, bringing the total number of dead to at least 38. It is thought that 14 men are still trapped beneath.
On Saturday night, there was an explosion in the Tabas coal mine, which is situated around 540 kilometers (335 miles) southeast of Tehran.
Survivors of the explosion recounted chaotic scenes that ensued, with people covered in coal dust mourning the loss of their fellow colleagues.
One unidentified miner described the moment of the explosion, noting, "Suddenly there was some smoke rising ... then I noticed I had difficulty breathing."
Authorities attributed the blast to a sudden leak of methane gas, which occurred as workers began their shift. Initial gas checks before the explosion reportedly showed no leaks.
No blast injuries were found on the bodies that were recovered, which suggests that many miners may have died from gas inhalation before the explosion.
In order to safeguard workers from methane and other harmful gasses, which are frequently present in mining operations, modern safety regulations call for sufficient ventilation.
It remains unclear what safety measures were in place at the privately owned Tabas Parvadeh 5 mine, operated by Mandanjoo Co., as the firm could not be reached for comment.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his commitment to rescue efforts and support for the victims' families, ordering a thorough investigation into the explosion.
Pezeshkian added, "I also requested to take measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents by improving work standards in the country’s mines."
The mining sector in Iran has a history of tragedies, and a 2017 explosion that killed at least 42 miners raised awareness of the continuous safety concerns in the sector.
Additionally, there have been fatalities in the past, including 20 workers in numerous accidents in 2009 and 11 workers in 2013. These incidents are typically connected to insufficient safety measures.
Despite being rich in various minerals, Iran’s coal production falls short of its consumption needs, importing additional coal for use in steel mills.
The country consumes about 3.5 million tons of coal annually while only extracting around 1.8 million tons from its mines each year.
