Explosion at Iran coal mine leaves dozens dead

An detonation caused by a state leak astatine a ember excavation successful eastbound Iran has killed astatine slightest 51 people, authorities media said connected Sunday.

More than 20 others person been reported missing pursuing the blast successful South Khorasan province.

It is reported to person been caused by a methane state detonation successful 2 blocks of the excavation successful Tabas, 540 km (335 miles) southeast of the superior Tehran.

There were 69 workers successful the blocks astatine the clip of the explosion, South Khorasan's politician Javad Ghenaatzadeh said.

According to the AP quality agency, helium said: "There was an detonation and unluckily 69 radical were moving successful the B and C blocks of Madanjoo mine.

"In artifact C determination were 22 radical and successful artifact B determination were 47 people."

It remains unclear however galore radical are inactive live and trapped wrong the mine.

State media has present revised its earlier toll of 30 dead.

"The fig of dormant workers accrued to 51 and the fig of injured accrued to 20," the authoritative IRNA quality bureau reported.

The detonation occurred astatine 21:00 section clip (17:30 GMT) connected Saturday, authorities media said.

State TV said 24 radical were inactive missing, citing the caput of Iran's Red Crescent.

According to Reuters quality agency, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed condolences to the victims' families.

"I spoke with ministers and we volition bash our champion to travel up," Pezeshkian said successful televised comments.