Rescuers have recovered the bodies of more workers who lost their lives in a tragic explosion at a coal mine in Tabas, located about 540 kilometers southeast of Tehran. The death toll from the incident has now risen to at least 38, with 14 miners still believed to be trapped underground.
The explosion, which occurred on Saturday night, left survivors and rescue workers grappling with the aftermath. Weeping miners stood by as the bodies of their colleagues, covered in coal dust, were brought to the surface on mine cars.
According to reports, the blast was triggered by a sudden leak of methane gas as the miners were beginning their work. Despite gas checks conducted the night before, no leakage was detected prior to the explosion. The bodies recovered so far showed no signs of blast injuries, indicating that many workers may have succumbed to the gas before the blast occurred.
While methane gas is a common hazard in mining operations, modern safety protocols emphasize the importance of ventilation and other measures to safeguard workers. Questions have been raised about the safety procedures in place at the privately owned Tabas Parvadeh 5 mine, operated by Mandanjoo Co., as investigations into the incident get underway.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has pledged full support for the rescue efforts and assistance to the families of the victims. He has also called for an immediate investigation into the explosion and urged measures to enhance work standards in the country's mines to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Iran's mining industry has a history of fatal accidents, with previous incidents claiming the lives of many workers. Lax safety standards and inadequate emergency services in mining areas have often been cited as contributing factors to these tragedies.
Iran, a country rich in mineral resources, heavily relies on coal for various industries. Despite an annual consumption of around 3.5 million tons of coal, the country's domestic mines only produce about 1.8 million tons per year, leading to significant imports to meet the demand, particularly in steel production.
