Death toll rises to 35 in Iran coal mine explosion

TEHRAN - At least 35 miners were killed in a coal mine explosion in the northern Iranian province of Golestan on Wednesday, Minister of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare Ali Rabiei was quoted by Tasnim news agency as saying Thursday.

The accident occurred at 12:45 pm local time (0815 GMT) in Zemestan Yourt mine near the city of Azadshahr.

Reports said some 50 miners were also injured in the accident and more than 30 of them have been transferred to nearby hospitals.

The Fars news agency reported earlier that more than 50 workers were trapped in a two-km-long tunnel filled with gas.

The Fars report said the mine has 500 workers and the explosion happened during a change of shift.

Officials blamed accumulated methane gas for the blast.