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Ayatollah Khamenei offers condolences over death of workers in coal mine explosion

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has offered his condolences over the death of dozens of workers in a coal mine explosion in Iran’s eastern province of South Khorasan.

At least 31 people lost their lives and 17 others sustained injuries in a huge explosion caused by a leak of methane gas in two blocks of Madanjoo mine in the vicinity of Tabas on Saturday night.

In a message on Sunday, the Leader extended his condolences to the families of the victims and people in the area over the bitter coal mine incident.

Ayatollah Khamenei urged the authorities, who have been dispatched to the area, to do everything they could to save those trapped and to take every necessary measure to reduce the aspect of the tragedy.

The Leader stressed the importance of immediately serving the injured.

17 miners still remained trapped: Interior minister

Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said search and rescue operations were underway in the mine, where 17 workers still remained trapped.

He added that the miners are trapped 1,000 meters away from the entrance of the tunnel and the rescue teams are 400 meters away from them.

It is very likely that they sustained serious injuries, he noted.

Causes of blast will not be overlooked: Senior lawmaker

Iran’s Deputy Parliament Speaker Ali Nikzad said the causes of the Tabas mine explosion will not be overlooked.

He added that Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf issued a decree calling for determination of the exact reasons behind the sad incident.

Officials from the government and parliament are in the location of the blast to save those who remained trapped, he noted.

“We all have legal responsibility regarding the incident,” Nikzad said.

He added that ambiguities about the explosion need precise investigation to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Many countries including Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Jordan condoled Iran over the mine explosion.


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