Cartoon by Nahid Maghsoudi

Iran's Deadly Mine Blast: Rescue Efforts Continue for 14 Miners

IranWire: Rescue efforts are underway at the Tabas coal mine in Iran's South Khorasan province, where 14 miners remain trapped following a deadly explosion that killed dozens of people.

The situation has become increasingly dire as officials race against the clock to reach the trapped workers.

Javad Qena'at, governor of South Khorasan, said, "22 people were working in Block C, eight of them were successfully brought to the surface, but 14 are still trapped underground."

The disaster has so far claimed dozens of lives. In Block B, 30 out of 47 workers have been confirmed dead.

Additionally, 17 miners were reported injured, with ten still hospitalized and seven discharged after treatment.

Interior Minister Iskander Momeni, speaking at a crisis management meeting, detailed the ongoing rescue efforts. He informed, "31 bodies have been recovered from the first route."

Momeni added that rescuers have advanced about a thousand meters on a second route, but further progress is hampered by toxic gases in the tunnels.

The Interior Minister called for a thorough investigation into the incident, asking, "It should be checked whether the workers carried masks and portable oxygen, whether the fans that eliminate the gases and the sensors that detect the amount of gas worked properly."

Momeni emphasized the gravity of the situation, describing the incident as "very bitter" and insisting on accountability. "Legal action should be taken against every guilty person at any level," he declared.