Burst In Iran's Coal Mine Kills 31 People, 17 Missing Miners

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JAKARTA -- A gas explosion at a coal mine in southern Khorasan province, Iran, killed 31 people and injured 16 people.

The country's Interior Minister Eskandar Momenti said 17 miners were still missing and their fate was still unknown because the rescue team was still 400 meters from the location where miners were suspected of being trapped.

There were 69 workers in the block at the time of the explosion on Saturday, September 21 evening. The methane gas explosion occurred in two blocks, B and C, privately owned mines operated by the company Madanjoo.

"76 percent of the country's coal is supplied from this region and about 8 to 10 large companies operate in the region including the company Madanjoo," said South Khorasan Provincial Governor Ali Akbar Rahimi as quoted by Reuters, Monday, September 23.

Authorities conducted mining inspections last month and were declared to comply with all safety regulations, said Minister of Manpower Ahmad Meydari, while denying any cases of negligence.

An investigation into this incident has been ordered by the country's public prosecutor.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed their condolences to the families of the victims.