Coal Mine Explosion Kills 34 Workers

UPDATE:  Rescuers on Monday recovered the bodies of more workers killed in the explosion, bringing the death toll to at least 38, officials said. Another 14 miners are still believed to be trapped below ground.

An explosion in a coal mine in eastern Iran killed at least 34 workers and injured 17 others, officials said, with others still missing hours after the blast.

The blast struck a coal mine in Tabas, about 540 kilometers (335 miles) southeast of the capital, Tehran, on Saturday night. On Sunday, miners watched as mine cars brought up the bodies of their colleagues covered in coal dust, AP News reported.

Mandanjoo Co. is a private company that operated the Tabas Parvadeh 5 mine.

Around 70 people had been working at the time of the blast. Local state television later said that 17 were believed to be trapped at a depth of 200 meters (650 feet) down a 700-meter (2,300-foot) tunnel. However, figures kept changing on Sunday with some reports suggesting the death toll was higher.

Officials stated this was one of the worst mining disasters in the country’s history.

Authorities blamed the blast on a leak of methane gas, which is common in mining, though modern safety measures call for ventilation and other measures to protect workers.

An investigation into the explosion is ongoing.

Related:Chemical Safety Board Shares Safety Video on Fatal Chemical Release