EXPLOSION IN IRAN COAL MINE LEAVES AT LEAST 35 MINERS DEAD

An explosion in a coal mine in northern Iran killed at least 35 workers and injured scores, state media reported.

The blast occurred on Wednesday in the Zemestanyurt mine when workers tried to jump-start a locomotive.

The mine lies 14 km from Azadshahr in Iran’s northern Golestan province.

Ali Rabiei, minister of cooperatives, labour and social welfare was quoted as saying by semi-official Tasnim news agency that 35 miners have died in the incident.

Iranian media said more than 30 of the injured were transferred to nearby hospitals.

The semi-official Fars news agency reported earlier that more than 50 workers were trapped in a two-kilometre-long tunnel filled with gas that hampered rescue efforts.

The mine has 500 workers and the explosion happened during a change of shift, Fars reported.

Since Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers, the country has begun an effort to renovate some of its coal mines. Delegations have visited Tehran from foreign countries including the Czech Republic, hopeful for contracts.

Iran extracted 1.68 million tonnes of coal in 2016, an increase on previous years, thanks to easing of international sanctions. It uses most in domestic steel production and exports only a fraction. Similar mine disasters have struck oil-rich Iran before.

The tragedy is particularly sensitive two weeks ahead of a presidential vote when Rouhani hopes to win a re-election. Conservative candidates have accused the government of failing to care for the poor.