On Wednesday, September 25, Pope Francis, the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church, responded via telegram to the explosion at the Tabas coal mine in northeastern Iran, which resulted in the deaths of over 50 Iranian workers.
According to “Vatican News,” the Pope expressed his sorrow over the loss of the Iranian workers’ lives in his message and said that he is praying for them.
In his message, Pope Francis also conveyed his “spiritual solidarity” with the injured, adding that he prays for the deceased and their grieving families. He further wished “strength, comfort, and peace” to all those affected by this tragedy.
Iranian media reported that the explosion occurred while approximately 70 workers were inside the mine.
According to local sources, the necessary safety measures required by Iranian regulations had not been followed in the mine.
Following the explosion at the Tabas “Madanjou” coal mine on the evening of Saturday, September 21, the head of the South Khorasan Provincial Crisis Management and the Red Crescent announced that 51 people had died and 20 were injured. Reports also indicated that several workers were still missing.
In a video released by survivors of the incident, the workers said they had smelled methane gas since the morning and informed the authorities, but they were told that nothing would happen, and they must continue working.
Iran’s disadvantaged workers are forced to continue working under these conditions, otherwise they risk being fired. These miners earn approximately 200 dollars per month for 12-hour workdays.
Despite supplying 76% of the country’s coal, this mine lacks basic safety standards and working conditions, as short-term profit and financial gain have been prioritized over the lives and health of Iranian workers.
In Iran, especially in industries related to mining, not only are international standards ignored, but even the country’s internal safety regulations are often neglected.
