Media reports say an explosion in a coal mine in eastern Iran has killed dozens of people and injured 20 others. 

A mine blast in eastern Iran has killed 51 people, Iranian state-run media said Sunday, revising an earlier toll of 30 dead.

The number of dead workers increased to 51, and the number of injured increased to 20, the official IRNA news agency reported.

The blast reportedly took place due to a methane gas leak at a coal mine run by the Madanjoo company in Tabas, some 540 kilometers southeast of the capital, Tehran

Javad Ghenaat, governor of South Khorasan province, where the mine is located, reportedly told Iranian state TV that rescue teams were working to recover 22 trapped workers.

According to The Associated Press (AP), he said: “There was an explosion and unfortunately 69 people were working in the B and C blocks of Madanjoo mine.”

“In block C there were 22 people and in block B there were 47 people.”

South Khorasan Province governor was cited as telling state TV yesterday that 76% of the country's coal is provided from this region and around 8 to 10 big companies are working in the region including Madanjoo company.  

Mohammad-Ali Akhondi, the director general of the provincial crisis management department, was cited as saying on Sunday that the accident was caused by a methane gas explosion in two blocks of the mine on Saturday night.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reportedly ordered an investigation into the incident.

IRNA notes that several countries and leaders have extended their sincere condolences and deepest sympathies to the families of victims as well as the people and government of Iran after the tragic coal mine explosion in the city of Tabas.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended the message of condolence to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.  In his message on Sunday, Sharif also sympathized with the families of the victims and expressed solidarity with those injured in the incident.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, has also issued a message condoling the Iranian government and nation over the sad incident that took in South Khorasan Province on Saturday night.

Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also shared a message on X social media platform, extending his condolences over the tragic incident.

Japan’s Ambassador to Iran Tamaki Tsukada also said that he was saddened by “the news of the tragic loss of invaluable lives and the injuries” in the coal mine accident in South Khorasan province, and extended his condolences over the tragedy. 

The chief spokesperson of the European Union, while expressing shock said that the 27-nation bloc sympathizes with the victims of this heartbreaking incident and their families.  Peter Stano published a message on the X social network on Monday morning and wrote: The European Union is following the rescue operation after the explosion in the Tabas coal mine in which dozens of workers died and injured.

President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, expressed his condolences to Iran President, Masoud Pezeshkian over the Tabas mine accident that caused deaths and injuries.  The president extended condolences to the families of the victims and I wished a speedy recovery for all those injured in this accident.