https://arab.news/275hn
- The accident was caused by a methane gas explosion in blocks B and C of the mine
- The total number of workers in the blocks at the time of the explosion was 69
TEHRAN: A gas explosion in a coal mine in Iran鈥檚 South Khorasan Province killed at least 51 people and injured 20, Iran鈥檚 state media said on Sunday.
The accident was caused by a methane gas explosion in two blocks, B and C, of the mine run by the Madanjoo company, state media said.
鈥�76 percent of the country鈥檚 coal is provided from this region and around 8 to 10 big companies are working in the region including Madanjoo company,鈥� the governor of South Khorasan Province Ali Akbar Rahimi told state TV on Sunday.
The rescue operation in block B has been completed. Of the 47 workers who were in the block 30 died and 17 were injured, Rahimi said earlier.
Rescue operations in block C have started. Methane density in the block is high and the operation will take around 3-4 hours, he added.
There were 69 workers in the blocks at the time of the explosion, state TV reported.
鈥淪eventeen injured people were transported to the hospital and 24 people are still missing,鈥� it said earlier on Sunday citing the head of Iran鈥檚 Red Crescent.
The explosion occurred at 9 p.m. (1730 GMT) on Saturday, state media said.
President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed condolences to the victims鈥� families. 鈥淚 spoke with ministers and we will do our best to follow up,鈥� Pezeshkian said in televised comments.