21 Iranian miners killed while entering shaft to rescue trapped colleagues

21 Iranian miners died while entering a shaft to rescue colleagues trapped after an explosion.

The Zemestan Yort mine, near the city of Azadshahr, Golestan province, collapsed on May 3 due to methane gas exploding after miners started a locomotive engine.

"Thirty-two miners are trapped at the end of a 1,300-meter-deep tunnel," AFP quoted Hassan Sadeghlou, head of Golestan province, as saying.

The rescue operation was slow because the tunnel was filled with toxic gas. They found the bodies of 21 miners, who are believed to have died while trying to enter the shaft to rescue trapped colleagues. Ali Rabiei, Iran's minister of cooperation, labor and social welfare, confirmed at least 35 people had died to the Tasnim news agency.

About 30 miners injured and suffering from gas poisoning were taken to hospital for treatment, according to IRNA.

"About 600 metres of the tunnel has been cleared," said Reza Bahrami, a mining official in Golestan. Authorities plan to dig a cross-tunnel to reach the trapped workers.

Another official said the priority now was to remove toxic gas from the tunnel due to the risk of a second explosion. An air pump had been brought to the scene.

Iran produced about 1.68 million tons of coal in 2016, up from the previous year, partly due to the easing of sanctions. Iran uses coal mainly for steel production and exports only a small amount.

Location of Azadshahr city, Iran. Graphics: BBC.

According to VNE