Iran’s official media said on Sunday that a gas explosion in a coal mine in the country’s South Khorasan Province had killed at least 51 people and injured 20 more.

According to official media, the Madanjoo company’s mine’s B and C blocks had a methane gas explosion that resulted in the accident.

The governor of South Khorasan Province, Ali Akbar Rahimi, told state TV on Sunday that “roughly eight to ten large companies, including Madanjoo company, are working in the region and provide 76% of the country’s coal.”

Block B’s rescue mission is now finished. Rahimi had originally stated that out of the 47 workers in the block, 30 had killed and 17 had been hurt.

Block C rescue operations have begun. The block has a high methane density, and the procedure will take three to four hours, he continued.

According to state TV, there were 69 workers in the blocks when the explosion occurred.

24 persons are still unaccounted for and 17 injured were taken to the hospital, according to a statement made earlier on Sunday that quoted the head of Iran’s Red Crescent.

According to official media, the explosion happened on Saturday at 9 p.m. (1730 GMT).

The families of the victims received condolences from President Masoud Pezeshkian. Pezeshkian stated on television, “I spoke with ministers and we will do our best to follow up.”