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An explosion in an Iranian coal mine killed at least 51 people and injured 20, Iran’s state media said on Sunday according to Reuters. 

The apparent cause of the accident was a methane gas explosion in two blocks of the mine, which is run by the Madanjoo company. 

“76% of the country’s coal is provided from this region and around 8 to 10 big companies are working in the region including Madanjoo company,” the governor of South Khorasan Province Ali Akbar Rahimi told state TV on Sunday.

At least 24 people are still missing, state TV said earlier on Sunday citing the head of Iran’s Red Crescent.

The explosion occurred at 9 p.m. (1730 GMT) on Saturday, state media said.