Death toll in Iran mine explosion rises to 42

Iranian search crews find seven more bodies at the site of last week’s coal mine explosion in northern Golestan province, raising the number of confirmed fatalities in the incident to 42, state TV reports.

The explosion last Wednesday at Zemestanyurt mine has been blamed on methane gas that had accumulated in the mine. The incident is believed to be the worst industrial accident to strike Iran in the last few decades.

Iranian media reports that at least 75 were injured in the explosion, and that the methane gas had sickened dozens of people who rushed into the mine to try to rescue those trapped.

— AP