Dozens dead from Iranian coalmine blast

An explosion in a coalmine in northern Iran killed at least 35 workers and injured scores more, state media reported.

The blast occurred in the Zemestanyurt mine on Wednesday afternoon when workers tried to jump-start a locomotive.

Ali Rabiei, minister of co-operatives, labour and social welfare was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency that 35 miners have died in the incident.

The Fars news agency reported earlier that more than 50 workers were trapped in a 2km-long tunnel filled with gas that hampered rescue efforts.

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

President Hassan Rouhani has sent Minister of Labour and Welfare to the mine in order to oversee the rescue operations and treatment of victims, state news agency IRNA reported.