An explosion at a stone mine in Khuzestan province has left three workers injured, according to a report by the state-run news agency ILNA. The accident occurred on the Haftkel-Baghmalek road, at a stone mine located 20 kilometers from Haftkel. The explosion was caused by the rupture of the feeder pipe connected to the hammer and its gas capsule, highlighting the ongoing lack of safety measures in Iran’s mining sector.
The injured workers, aged 24, 26, and 35, sustained injuries to their heads and faces and were immediately transferred to Ramhormoz Mother Hospital for treatment. The incident underscores the dire conditions faced by workers, particularly in Iran’s hazardous mining sector, where accidents are tragically common.
State media reports and independent accounts suggest that the absence of safety measures at work has repeatedly resulted in the loss of life or serious injuries for many workers, particularly in mines. This latest incident follows a series of other deadly accidents, including the catastrophic coal mine explosion in Tabas earlier this month, which claimed 52 lives.
#Iran News:
Tragic Mining Accident in Tabas Claims at Least 30 Lives, Dozens Still Missinghttps://t.co/Ips4DIoWyR— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) September 22, 2024
Iran’s mining sector is notorious for its lack of safety protocols. According to a report by the Farheekhtegan newspaper, in 2021 alone, 270 accidents were reported across Iran’s mines. Among the most dangerous are iron ore, coal, and sand mines, which saw 390, 368, and 187 accidents respectively. The paper further noted that “on average, a workplace accident occurs daily in coal mines.”
Despite the regime’s promises to improve worker safety, the frequency of such accidents highlights systemic neglect and the failure to enforce basic safety regulations.