On Saturday night, an explosion occurred at a coal mine in Iran. The results were deadly. At least 38 miners died. Officials say the search continues for at least 14 miners still trapped underground.
Oil-producing Iran is rich in a variety of minerals. It extracts about 1.8 million tons of minerals from its mines every year. Sadly, lax safety standards and poor emergency services in mining areas contribute to many mine fatalities in the country.
Following the blast, rescuers used mine cars to recover coal workers’ bodies.
Iran’s state-run news agency says the explosion took place at the privately owned Tabas Parvadeh 5 mine operated by Mandanjoo Co. The mine is located in Tabas, about 335 miles southeast of the capital of Tehran.
Iranian state television interviewed survivors. Still smudged in coal dust, they described chaotic scenes after the blast.
“We were in the mine, working. Suddenly there was some smoke rising . . . then I noticed I had difficulty breathing,” said one miner not identified by state TV. “I jumped off from the workshop, and I scrambled until I reached somewhere [safe]. My friends [remained] in there.”
Authorities say a sudden leak of methane gas led to the blast as workers began their work. They say mine gas checks did not show any leakage before the explosion. Bodies recovered so far showed no signs of blast injuries. That suggests that many workers died from the gas before the explosion.
Such gases are common in mining. However, modern safety measures call for ventilation and other measures to protect workers.
It wasn’t immediately clear what safety procedures were in place at the Tabas Parvadeh 5 mine.
Labor minister Ahmad Meydari told state media that the mine went through inspections last month and complied with all safety regulations. He denies any negligence and says that such “sudden events also happen in the most advanced mines globally.”
Disasters have struck the country’s mining industry before. Those include a coal mine explosion in 2017, two mining incidents in 2013, and several in 2009. All incidents included multiple deaths.
Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said Sunday that he ordered all efforts be made to rescue those trapped and to aid their families. He also said officials had begun an investigation into the explosion.
“I also requested to take measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents by improving work standards in the country’s mines,” Pezeshkian says.
Pray for those injured in the disaster. Pray also for those who lost family members and friends in the accident. Ask God to make His presence known there.
