A coal mine explosion in eastern Iran killed at least 51 workers and injured many others, with several still missing. The blast, attributed to a methane gas leak, is one of the worst mining disasters in the country’s history. Iran's mining industry has faced similar tragedies due to lax safety standards.

An explosion in a coal mine in eastern Iran resulted in the deaths of at least 51 workers and left more than a dozen others injured, according to officials on Sunday. This incident marks one of the most devastating mining disasters in the country’s history, with several workers still unaccounted for hours after the blast.

The explosion occurred at a coal mine in Tabas, located approximately 540 kilometers (335 miles) southeast of Tehran, on Saturday night. By Sunday, miners, visibly distraught, stood beside mine carts that brought up the bodies of their fallen colleagues, all covered in coal dust.

At the time of the explosion, around 70 workers were present in the mine. State television reported that 17 individuals were believed to be trapped at a depth of 200 meters (650 feet) within a 700-meter (2,300-foot) tunnel. Throughout Sunday, the figures regarding casualties fluctuated, with some reports indicating a higher death toll as the situation evolved in the rural area.

Authorities have attributed the explosion to a methane gas leak, a common hazard in mining operations. While modern safety protocols typically include ventilation systems and other protective measures, the specific safety practices in place at the privately-owned Mandanjoo Company, which operates the Tabas Parvadeh 5 mine, were not immediately known. The company could not be contacted for comments on Sunday.

Iran’s mining industry has faced multiple disasters in the past. In 2017, a coal mine explosion resulted in the deaths of at least 42 people. Earlier incidents include the deaths of 11 workers in two separate mining accidents in 2013 and 20 fatalities in various incidents in 2009. Lax safety regulations and insufficient emergency response capabilities in mining regions have frequently been cited as contributing factors to these tragedies.

Although Iran is an oil-producing nation, it is also rich in various minerals. The country consumes approximately 3.5 million tons of coal annually but only produces about 1.8 million tons from its mines each year, with the remainder being imported, primarily for use in domestic steel mills.