Coal Mine Blast Death Toll Rises to 51 in Iran

A blast at a coal mine in the eastern Iranian province of South Khorasan has claimed 51 lives, said media reports. Around 20 persons were injured in this explosion.

Mohammad-Ali Akhoundi, director general of the provincial crisis management headquarters in Iran said that blast occurred at the mine belonging to the Madanjoo Company in Tabas County at about 21:00 local time on Saturday.

The explosion happened due to an increase in the amount of methane gas in one of the tunnels.

The provincial authorities have declared three days of mourning in South Khorasan, reported Iran’s official news agency IRNA.

Elias Hazrati, head of the Iranian government’s Information Council, said President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued a special directive to handle the incident, ordering relevant ministers to take necessary measures.