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    Methane Explosion in Iranian Coal Mine Claims 51 Lives as Search for Survivors Continues

    World News 4 Mins Read

    A sudden blast shook the earth beneath the Tabas mine in eastern Iran, tearing through the quiet night. It was around 9 p.m. when everything changed. In the darkness of the mine, 69 workers were caught underground, trapped as methane gas exploded through the shafts. Lives were split open in an instant—51 dead, and more than 20 others hurt, their bodies pulled from the debris as search crews worked against time.

    The mine, situated in South Khorasan province, has long been both a treasure and a threat— one of the largest coal reserves in the country, but it is not without any danger. On that night, a routine shift became a disaster in the B and C blocks. Governor Javad Ghenaatzadeh described the scene with a heavy tone: 22 miners in one block, 47 in the other. Now, some still lie buried and they are bearing uncertain fates their fates deep under the wreckage.

    Initially it was reported that 30 were dead. But as rescue workers sifted through the twisted remnants of what was once solid earth, the toll rose to 51, and the fear of more to come still lingers. The Red Crescent had warned that at least 24 were missing, but the toxic air and debris made it hard to push deeper into the mine’s depths. Gas pockets have complicated every move, making the rescue works as dangerous as the disaster itself.

    Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, spoke with grief, offering the usual condolences. “We will follow up,” he said, though for many, the words felt hollow. Too often, they’ve heard this before. The Tabas mine has claimed lives before—two dead just two years ago, and last year in Damghan, six more perished in a methane blast. For
    Iran it is not an uncommon but grim pattern, with safety protocols and responsibility often waved even after such tragedies.

    This mine, sprawling over more than 30,000 square kilometers, holds immense wealth. But it comes at a steep price. Fortune sits beside risk here, and now, the miners’ families face that cold reality yet again. They wait by the entrance, some pacing, others sitting silently, as the search for the living carries on.

    And in their waiting, the shadow of past disasters looms large. The explosion of 2017 in Azad Shahr, where 43 miners died, still haunts many. Back then, too, promises were made—talk of investigations, accountability. But as prosecutor Ali Nesaei reminds everyone, negligence will be dealt with “later.” For now, the focus is singular: to save who can be saved… and mourn those who cannot be.

    Major Points

    • A methane gas explosion at the Tabas mine in South Khorasan province trapped 69 workers underground, killing 51 and injuring over 20.
    • The disaster occurred during a routine shift, tearing through the B and C blocks, with 22 miners in one block and 47 in the other.
    • Toxic gas pockets hinder rescue efforts, as more miners remain missing, complicating the search for survivors.
    • The Tabas mine, one of Iran’s largest coal reserves, has a history of fatal accidents, raising concerns over safety protocols and accountability.
    • Families wait anxiously as rescue teams work to reach those still buried, haunted by past mining tragedies in Iran.

    Al Santana – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News

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