(RVA News): Pope Francis offered his condolences to the victims of a coal mine explosion in eastern Iran on September 21, marking one of the worst mining disasters in the country’s history.
In a telegramme signed by Pietro Cardinal Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, the Holy Father assured has his prayers for those who have died, as well as their grieving families.
“Likewise expressing his spiritual solidarity with the wounded, His Holiness invokes upon all affected by this tragedy the Almighty’s blessing of strength, consolation, and peace,” the telegram stated.
The disaster happened in a privately owned coal mine in Tabas, about 540 kilometres southeast of the capital, Tehran.
When the explosion took place at 9:00pm local time, 69 workers were inside the coal mine.
As of September 25, Iranian state television reported that the death toll stood at 50. Forty-nine workers died onsite, while one passed away in the hospital.
A methane gas leak was believed to have caused the blast, a gas commonly used in mining but requires proper ventilation.
Iran’a president, Masoud Pezeshkian, ordered an investigation into the explosion.
“I also requested to take measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents by improving work standards in the country’s mines,” Pezeshkian said.
Iran, which consumes around 3.5 million tons of coal, has faced various mining disasters in recent years.
A coal mine explosion in 2017 killed at least 42, while 11 workers died in two separate mining incidents in 2013.
In 2009, several mining incidents claimed the lives of 20 people.
