A gas explosion at a coal mine in Iran's South Khorasan province killed at least 38 people, Iranian state media reported.
According to state media, the accident was the result of a methane explosion in two units, B and C, a mine operated by Madanjoo.
The rescue operation in Block B has been completed. Of the 47 workers in the block, 30 were killed and 17 were injured, Rahimi said earlier.
Rescue work has begun in block C. The density of methane in the block is high, the operation will take about 3-4 hours, he added.
According to state television, there were 69 workers in the blocks at the time of the explosion.
“Seventeen wounded were taken to hospital, and 24 people are still missing,” it said agency earlier on Sunday, citing the head of Iran's Red Crescent.
State media said the explosion occurred at 21:00 (17:30 GMT) on Saturday.
President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed condolences to the families of the victims. "I have spoken with ministers and we will do everything possible to take action," Pezeshkian said in televised comments.
Iranian authorities said an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the incident. South Khorasan prosecutor Ali Nesai Zahan announced that an investigation is underway. He also said that no one had been arrested in connection with the incident and that authorities were waiting for expert reports to better understand the cause of the explosion.
The explosion led to the announcement of three days of public events in South Khorasan, during which senior officials from across the country will travel to Tabas to offer their condolences.
Inadequate safety standards and inadequate emergency services in mining areas are frequent causes of mining accidents. Last year, a coal mine explosion in the northern city of Damghan killed six people, and in May 2021 two more died at the same site due to a cave-in.
