DUBAI (Reuters) -A gasoline explosion in a coal mine in Iran’s South Khorasan Province killed not less than 31 individuals and injured 16, the nation’s inside minister Eskandar Momeni instructed state media on Sunday.
Native media had reported earlier within the day that 51 individuals had been killed following the accident they stated was attributable to a methane gasoline explosion in two blocks, B and C, of the privately-owned mine operated by the Madanjoo firm.
Momeni added that 17 miners had been nonetheless lacking and their destiny remained unknown as rescue groups had been nonetheless 400 metres away from their possible location. They had been anticipated to achieve it by tomorrow after eradicating rubble and extra gasoline.
There have been 69 staff within the blocks on the time of the explosion, state TV reported.
“76% of the nation’s coal is supplied from this area and round 8 to 10 large corporations are working within the area together with Madanjoo firm,” the governor of South Khorasan Province Ali Akbar Rahimi instructed state TV on Sunday.
The mine went by inspections final month and complied with all security rules, labour minister Ahmad Meydari instructed state media, denying any case of negligence and including that such “sudden occasions additionally occur in probably the most superior mines globally”.
An investigation into the incident has been ordered by the nation’s public prosecutor.
The explosion occurred at 9 p.m. (1730 GMT) on Saturday, state media stated.
Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian despatched their condolences to the victims’ households.