Artist: Ahmad Barakizadeh
By Kayhan Life Staff
An explosion at a coal mine ignited by a methane gas leak on Sep. 21 in the Iranian city of Tabas left at least 50 people dead in what is considered to be one of the worst industrial disasters of recent years in the country. Forty-three miners were killed seven years ago at a blast in a mine in Azad Shahr, in the Golestan province. Six workers were killed last year at an explosion in a coal mine in Damghan located in the Semnan. The same mine had claimed the lives of two workers two years earlier.
Miners in Tabas had complained to the management about the smell of methane gas, but the company had ordered them to return to work. Mandanjoo, the company operating the privately owned mine, was blamed for the tragedy by Iran lawmaker Zahra Saeedi, who said the mine did not have a working safety system.
The government has also been blamed for failing to ensure mines in the country are safely run following a spate of explosions at several mines in recent years.
The criticisms include poor safety standards and inadequate emergency service responses in mining areas.
The explosion in Tabas garnered worldwide attention, including a message of condolence from the Pope, who said he was also praying “for those who died and for their bereaved families” and expressed his “spiritual solidarity with the injured.”
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