Gas Leak at Iranian Coal Mine Kills Seven Including Three Afghan Workers

A tragic gas leak at a coal mine in northern Iran has claimed the lives of seven workers, including three Afghan nationals, state media reported on Tuesday. The deadly incident occurred on Monday afternoon near the city of Damghan, located approximately 270 kilometers (170 miles) northwest of Tehran.

According to the official IRNA news agency, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the gas leak. Early reports suggest that safety protocols may have been ignored, raising serious concerns about industrial safety standards in the country’s mining sector.

The mine, part of Iran’s extensive coal mining operations, became the site of the latest in a string of fatal workplace accidents. Emergency response teams were dispatched to the scene shortly after the incident was reported, but efforts to rescue the trapped workers were ultimately unsuccessful. The identities of the victims have not yet been released, but authorities confirmed that among the deceased were three Afghan workers, highlighting the multinational workforce in Iran’s labor-intensive mining industry.

This accident adds to a growing list of industrial tragedies in Iran. Official figures suggest that approximately 700 workers lose their lives annually in workplace accidents across various sectors, with mining being one of the most hazardous. Just last week, an iron ore mine collapsed in Iran’s northwest, killing one worker. And in September, a coal mine explosion in eastern Iran resulted in the deaths of dozens of miners, making it one of the deadliest mining disasters in recent years.

The recurring nature of such incidents has drawn criticism from labor rights groups and safety advocates, who argue that Iran's industrial safety regulations are often poorly enforced, especially in remote and high-risk areas. Many workers, including undocumented immigrants and contract laborers, are said to operate under unsafe conditions without adequate protective equipment or emergency protocols in place.

In response to the Damghan tragedy, President Pezeshkian emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the gas leak and to hold those responsible accountable. He also urged authorities to review safety procedures across the country’s mines to prevent future incidents.

The Ministry of Labor and the Iranian Mine Workers’ Association are expected to release a joint statement in the coming days, addressing both the specific incident and broader issues related to worker safety. Meanwhile, local officials in Semnan province, where Damghan is located, have pledged full cooperation with the investigation and support for the families of the victims.

The latest incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by workers in Iran’s mining sector, and it is likely to renew calls for comprehensive reform in workplace safety standards. As Iran continues to rely on its mining industry for economic development, the pressure is mounting on both government authorities and private operators to ensure that the lives of workers are not compromised in pursuit of production targets.