The death toll from an explosion at coal mine in eastern Iran has climbed to 51, with an additional 20 people injured, according to Iranian officials.
The updated figures were announced by the Director General of Crisis Management for South Khorasan Province and the Head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society.
The explosion occurred at approximately 9 p.m. local time at the mine in Tabas, about 540 kilometers southeast of Tehran.
Workplace accidents in Iran, particularly in the mining sector, are a longstanding issue, with statistics showing a rising trend in both incidents and fatalities. Between March and August 2024, over 400 workers in Mazandaran Province were either killed or injured in workplace accidents according to official figures.
Furthermore, official data from the Forensic Medicine Organization reveals that between March 2023 and March 2024, 2,115 people lost their lives in work-related accidents, reflecting an 11.3% increase compared to the previous year.
Experts argue that official statistics capture only a fraction of the reality, as many workplace accidents go unreported due to unregistered and uninsured workers.
The prohibition of independent labor unions and syndicates in Iran has led to a lack of proper oversight of employment contracts and workplace safety standards.
