An explosion at a coal mine in eastern Iran caused by a methane leak has resulted in at least 51 deaths and 20 injuries. 

The blast occurred in two sections of the Madanjoo mine in Tabas, South Khorasan, Madanjoo, which is operated by a local private company.  

According to local media sources, more than 75% of the “country’s coal is provided from this region, and eight to ten big companies are working in the region, including Madanjoo company”, citing regional governor Ali Akbar Rahimi.  

Media reports indicate that a gas leak in the coal mine led to an explosion, with the rescue operations being extremely challenging. 

Dangerously high levels of methane have added difficulty to efforts to rescue the affected areas almost 500m below ground. The concentration of methane gas remains a significant barrier, preventing further entry into the mine. 

Local media sources also revealed that the Iranian judiciary has initiated a thorough investigation into the incident, vowing to hold those responsible accountable. 

The Tabas mine is among the largest coal mining operations in the country. Iran is rich in natural resources, but its mining sector has been hindered by a lack of foreign investment, largely due to long-standing sanctions imposed by the US. 

Saeed Samadi, the secretary of Iran’s coal association, criticised the government for not allocating any budget for mine safety since last year. He mentioned that coal mines generally suffer from inadequate equipment, as reported by the Financial Times (FT).  

“It is too early to draw conclusions about the incident, but my 30 years of experience suggest that a sudden gas explosion is likely the cause of this large-scale incident,” Samadi told Iranian media, according to the FT. 

State media initially reported the explosion at the mine late Saturday, stating that emergency responders were dispatched to the location.  

According to one account, approximately 70 individuals were inside the mine when the blast occurred. Another report indicated that the trapped individuals might be in a tunnel as deep as 250m. 

The Iranian Red Crescent mentioned that rescue operations were hindered by "gas accumulation in the mine". 

Earlier this year, the BBC reported that one of the worst-ever methane leaks took place at a well in Kazakhstan in 2023, with 127,000 tonnes of the gas escaping when a blowout started a six-month fire.