At least 51 people were killed and around 20 others injured in a coal mine explosion in eastern Iran, according to official reports on Sunday.
The explosion, caused by a gas leak, occurred at the Tabas coal mine in the South Khorasan province, sparking a major rescue operation.
Iran's state news agency, IRNA, confirmed the updated death toll, with authorities attributing the explosion to a methane gas leak.
The blast took place on Saturday night at approximately 9 p.m. local time (17:30 GMT) at the privately owned Madanjou mine, where at least 70 miners were working at the time.
Initial reports indicated 30 fatalities, but the number has since risen as rescue teams continue to recover bodies from the rubble. Methane gas leaked into two sections of the mine, triggering the deadly explosion.
Footage from state television showed ambulances and helicopters arriving at the scene to transport the injured to nearby hospitals.
Video clips released by IRNA depicted rescue workers recovering the bodies of miners still in their work uniforms and transporting them on mine carts.
Javad Ghenaat, the governor of South Khorasan province, stated that rescue efforts are ongoing to recover both the deceased and any miners still trapped underground.
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