Mine Explosion in Golestan Province: ’26 Workers’ Trapped in Yurt Coal Mine
Reports indicate that following an explosion at the Azadshahr mine in Golestan Province on Wednesday, 13 Ordibehesht, at least 15 workers have been injured and at least 26 workers are ‘trapped’.
The Telegram channel of the Entekhab website also reported that the bodies of two workers have been pulled from the rubble. However, responsible officials have not yet confirmed this report.
According to a report by the Iran Students’ News Agency, ISNA, Shahin Fathi, deputy head of relief and rescue operations at the Red Crescent Society, announced that as a result of the explosion at the Azadshahr mine, which occurred at 12 noon on Wednesday, 15 workers were injured.
According to Mr. Fathi, 55 workers were working in this mine and 40 of them have been ‘trapped’ in the mine.
The latest report by IRNA, citing Sadegh Ali Moghaddam, director general of the crisis management office of Golestan Province’s governorship, indicates that some of these workers have been rescued, but 26 other workers remain trapped in the Yurt mine.
This is while the Farsi News Agency, citing an emergency official, reported the possibility of 80 workers being trapped in this mine.
According to a report by Farsi News Agency, Pirouz Hanachi, head of the country’s emergency services, said this mine has two sections with 40 people trapped in one section and 30 to 40 others in the other section of the mine.
The IRIB news agency also announced that 18 workers were injured and 50 workers are ‘trapped’ in the mine in this incident.
Meanwhile, the deputy governor of Azadshahr city announced that ‘the severity of the incident was severe’ and rescue forces are currently being sent to the site.
Gholamreza Ghazavi emphasized that more rescue forces are needed and coordination with neighboring cities and the Golestan Province center for sending auxiliary forces is underway.
According to a report by the official IRNA news agency, Ali Nasiri, one of the officials at the Azadshahr mine, also said that the explosion occurred during a shift change and ‘we are concerned about the workers’ safety’.
500 workers work in the Azadshahr coal mine and this mine is located 14 kilometers from Azadshahr and 90 kilometers east of Gorgan, the center of Golestan Province.
In previous years, a number of Iranian mine workers have also been killed and injured in accidents while working.
For example, in 1393, five people were killed as a result of an explosion in the ‘Qaleh Khargoshi’ granite mine in Ardakan, Yazd Province.
In Esfand of 1392, a gas explosion in the ‘Cheshmeh Podaneh’ coal mine in Kohbanan caused the death of three people and injured six other miners.
Source: Radio Farda
