2024-09-23 08:46:01
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Rescuers recovered the bodies of more workers killed in an explosion at a coal mine in eastern Iran on Monday, officials said, bringing the death toll from the disaster to at least 38. A further 14 miners are believed to be still trapped underground.
The explosion occurred late Saturday at a mine in Tabas, about 540 kilometers (335 miles) southeast of the capital Tehran. On Sunday morning, miners could be seen crying beside carts carrying the bodies of their colleagues, which were covered in coal dust.
The new death toll and missing persons were announced on Monday by the state news agency IRNA.
Authorities said a sudden leak of methane caused the explosion as miners began their day’s work. Gas inspections Saturday night did not indicate any leaks before the explosion. Bodies found so far show no injuries from the explosion, suggesting the gas had killed many workers before the explosion.
Methane is common in the mining industry, although modern safety measures employ ventilation and other systems to protect workers.
It was initially unclear what safety measures Mandanjoo Co., the private company that operates the Tabas Parvadeh 5 mine, had in place and could not be reached for comment.
Iran’s mining industry has suffered disasters in the past. A coal mine explosion in 2017 killed at least 42 people.
In 2013, 11 workers died in two separate incidents. In 2009, 20 miners died in separate incidents. Deaths are often attributed to lax safety measures and inadequate emergency services at mines.
Iran is an oil producer and is also rich in other mineral resources. Although only about 1.8 million tons of coal are extracted from the mines each year, the company consumes about 3.5 million tons of coal annually. The rest is imported and usually consumed in the country’s steel furnaces.
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