The death toll from a gas explosion in a mine in the city of Tabas in the eastern Iranian province of South Khorasan has increased from 13 to 19 people, the head of the crisis management department under the governor of the province, Mohammad Ali Akhundi said.
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“The number of deaths as a result of the incident at the Tabas mine has increased from 13 to 19 people,” Shafaqna agency quotes Akhundi as saying.
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Earlier, the Iranian state agency Mehr reported that a gas explosion in a mine in Tabas killed at least 13 people and injured 12. A rescue operation is underway at the scene.
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Akhundi, in an interview with another Iranian agency, IRNA, said that the incident occurred last evening around 21:00 local time at the Madanjo mine, affecting two blocks, B and C, in which 69 people worked. As the official explained, this coal mine lies at a depth of 250 meters underground and has a length of 700 meters. Akhundi noted that 40 rescuers are involved in the rescue work.
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According to IRNA, the Tabas coal basin, with an area of more than 30 thousand square kilometers, is the largest and richest coal region in Iran. Its reserves of coking and thermal coal amount to 75.2 billion tons.
