'Two dead and dozens trapped' in Iranian coal mine following explosion

An explosion at a coal mine in Iran has left two people dead and dozens trapped inside, state media has reported.

Iranian media said two people had been killed and between 40 and 50 people were trapped in a coal mine in the country's north, attributing the figure to the Golestan provincial emergency management department.

However, Pir Hossein Kolivand, who runs Iran's emergency department, later said that as many as 80 people could be trapped in two sections of the mine.

Several officials blamed the explosion on accumulated gas and said it was hampering rescue efforts.

At least 25 people who entered the mine to try and help those who were trapped had to be taken to hospital after inhaling the gas, Hamidreza Montazeri, the deputy head of the emergency management department in Golestan said.

The blast happened at the Zemestanyurt mine in Azad Shahr which employs more than 500 people at 12.45pm local time.

Iranian media reported that the blast happened as workers were changing shifts.