An explosion in a coal mine in eastern Iran has killed more than 50 workers.
Iran’s state-run media reported that the blast occurred at around 9 p.m. on Saturday at the coal mine in the province of South Khorasan.
Around 70 people had reportedly been working at the time of the explosion. Work is underway to find those trapped.
Authorities blamed the blast on a leak of methane gas.
President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed condolences to the victims’ families. He said an investigation into the explosion had begun and that the government will take measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
The Associated Press described the explosion as one of the worst mining disasters in Iran’s history.