IRAN: Two killed, dozens trapped in coal mine blast

Up to 40 miners remain trapped after an explosion in a coal mine in northern Iran, state television has reported. The IRTV1 channel said that there had been no news about the miners’ health. They are believed to be 1,800m underground at the Zemestan-Yurt mine, near Azadshahr in the northern province of Golestan. They are […]

Up to 40 miners remain trapped after an explosion in a coal mine in northern Iran, state television has reported.

The IRTV1 channel said that there had been no news about the miners’ health.

They are believed to be 1,800m underground at the Zemestan-Yurt mine, near Azadshahr in the northern province of Golestan.

They are said to have limited space and to be in danger from volatile gasses. Earlier reports said that at least 50 miners were buried by the blast.

It remains unclear exactly how many miners are affected – some online sources say that there are in fact only between 24 and 26 miners trapped.

Two people are reported to have been killed and 25 others wounded by the blast.

One emergency services spokesman said that 16 people had managed to escape.