The Iran Coal Mine blast occurred late on Saturday, September 21, 2024 in the coal mine located in Taba. This region is a coal-producing area providing over 76% of Iran’s coal. The disaster took place in the Parvadeh 5 mine, which is operated by the privately-owned Mandanjoo Company.
The methane gas explosion occurred in two specific sections of the mine, known as blocks B and C. These explosions were powerful enough to cause damage leading to a huge rescue operation.
Also Read: Scientists Store Entire Human Genome on 5D Memory Crystals
The Iran Coal Mine explosion occurred in in the Tabas district. The mine is operated by the Madanjoo company, one of several large corporations working in the region’s coal mining sector.
The Tabas mine is a critical resource for Iran’s coal industry covering over 30,000 square kilometers. It is considered the richest coal area in Iran. The region supplies approximately 76% of Iran’s coal.
The Iran Coal Mine explosion is believed to have been caused by a methane gas leak within two blocks of the mine (B and C). The explosion occurred at around 21:00 local time on Saturday evening, catching miners off-guard.
Methane buildup in underground mines is a common risk and local authorities confirmed that gas accumulation was responsible for the explosion. Rescue operations have been challenging due to the high density of gas in the area.
At the time of the explosion, 69 miners were working across two blocks of the mine, Block B: 47 workers and Block C: 22 workers.
The initial death toll was reported to be 30, but this number has since been revised upwards to 51. At least 20 workers have sustained injuries from the explosion with several being transported to hospitals for treatment.
There are reports that 17 miners are still missing and search-and-rescue operations are ongoing to locate them. Rescue teams are believed to be 400 meters away from the likely location of the missing individuals.
Authorities hope to reach them within the next 24 hours, but the buildup of gas and rubble has complicated the mission.
There were conflicting reports regarding the exact number of casualties with some reports suggesting the death toll might be even higher.
Of the 69 workers present in the Iran Coal Mine at the time of the blast, 17 were injured. Reports indicated that 17 miners were believed to be trapped approximately 200 meters below the surface inside a 700-meter tunnel.
Rescue efforts commenced immediately with workers and authorities racing against time to locate survivors.
Also Read: Galaxy Gas: A Dangerous TikTok Trend that you Need to Know
Governor of South Khorasan Province, Ali Akbar Rahimi stated that rescue operations in Block B had been completed, confirming that out of 47 workers present, 30 had died and 17 were injured.
In Block C, efforts continued into Sunday as high methane concentrations slowed down operations. Rescuers anticipated that it would take several hours to safely enter the section where more workers were feared to be trapped.
The disaster has been officially attributed to a methane gas leak, a frequent danger in coal mining. Methane accumulates in mines and can lead to explosions if not properly ventilated.
Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. As he was preparing to travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, the president assured the public that the government would do its best to follow up on the incident and provide support to affected families.
In his statement, President Pezeshkian confirmed that an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the accident.
Governor Javad Ghenaatzadeh of South Khorasan province also stated that the negligence and fault of the relevant agents would be dealt with, but the priority right now remains on aiding the victims and rescuing those trapped.
In 2017, an explosion at a coal mine in the northern Golestan province killed 42 workers. In 2013, two separate incidents claimed the lives of 11 miners.
In 2009, multiple mining accidents across the country killed 20 workers. Lax safety standards and inadequate emergency response services were commonly cited as major contributing factors.
Also Read: Japan: Floods and Landslides in Ishikawa Region
