TEHRAN, Iran — An surge in a coal mine in eastern Iran eliminated at least 34 employees and hurt 17 others, authorities stated Sunday, marking one of the worst mining catastrophes in the nation’s history as others stayed missingouton 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. By Sunday, weeping miners stood togetherwith mine vehicles that brought up the bodies of their coworkers, all covered in coal dust.
Around 70 individuals hadactually been working at the time of the blast. State tv lateron stated that 17 were thought to be caught at a depth of 200 meters (650 feet) down a 700-meter (2,300-foot) tunnel. However, figures kept altering throughout Sunday relatingto the catastrophe in the rural location with some reports recommending the death toll was greater.
A provincial emergencysituation main, Mohammad Ali Akhoundi, informed the state-run IRNA news company Sunday afternoon that the death toll had reached at least 34 as rescue efforts continued.
Survivors spokewith by state TELEVISION, still smeared in coal dust, explained disorderly scenes after the blast.
“We were in the myown, working. Suddenly there was some smoke increasing … then I observed I had problem breathing,” stated one miner, whom state TELEVISION did not recognize. “I leapt off from the wo