Hopes fade for Iran miners after 21 die in failed rescue bid

Rescuers battled hazardous conditions yesterday at a coal mine in northern Iran where 21 miners died in a failed attempt to save workmates trapped deep underground after an explosion, reports AFP.
Hopes of finding 14 missing miners alive were fading after the blast Wednesday at the mine in Azadshahr in Golestan province, where three days of mourning were declared.
The rescue operation at the Zemestan Yort mine was hampered by poisonous gases that filled the tunnels as well as by fears of a further collapse.
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei offered condolences for the "very bitter" tragedy.
"Efforts by various organisations will be rewarded (by God). They (should) increase their efforts as much as possible," he said in a message. President Hassan Rouhani also expressed sorrow for victims of the disaster, which has overshadowed his re-election campaign.

"The hope of finding the remaining 14 miners still alive is now minimal," Sadegh-Ali Moghadam, emergencies director in Golestan, was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency.
He said the bodies of the 21 miners were found at a depth of 600 metres (yards) and rescue teams have descended 1,400 metres into the tunnel where the blast happened.
"The problem is the upper arch which has been weakened by the explosion. Miners are working to secure the tunnel" to be able to move forward, he said. The tunnel caved in when methane gas exploded underground as workers tried to jump-start a locomotive engine, according to initial reports.
Rouhani ordered all departments "to use all equipment available to facilitate the rescue services and save those trapped". 
"The painful incident involving a number of hard-working miners in the Azadshahr mine brought sorrow and mourning to all Iranian people," he said.

Hopes fade for Iran miners after 21 die in failed rescue bid

Rescuers battled hazardous conditions yesterday at a coal mine in northern Iran where 21 miners died in a failed attempt to save workmates trapped deep underground after an explosion, reports AFP. Hopes of finding 14 missing miners alive were fading after the blast Wednesday at the mine in Azadshahr in Golestan province, where three days of mourning were declared. The rescue operation at the Zemestan Yort mine was hampered by poisonous gases that filled the tunnels as well as by fears of a further collapse. Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei offered condolences for the very bitter tragedy. Efforts by various organisations will be rewarded (by God). They (should) increase their efforts as much as possible, he said in a message. President HassanRouhani also expressed sorrow for victims of the disaster, which has overshadowed his re-election campaign. The hope of finding the remaining 14 miners still alive is now minimal, Sadegh-Ali Moghadam, emergencies director in Golestan, was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency. He said the bodies of the 21 miners were found at a depth of 600 metres (yards) and rescue teams have descended 1,400 metres into the tunnel where the blast happened. The problem is the upper arch which has been weakened by the explosion. Miners are working to secure the tunnel to be able to move forward, he said. The tunnel caved in when methane gas exploded underground as workers tried to jump-start a locomotive engine, according to initial reports. Rouhani ordered all departments to use all equipment available to facilitate the rescue services and save those trapped. The painful incident involving a number of hard-working miners in the Azadshahr mine brought sorrow and mourning to all Iranian people, he said.