At least two people were killed and another two remained trapped after a mine collapsed in the central Iranian province of Markazi on Sunday, Iran's official news agency IRNA reported.
The mine collapsed at around 10:00 a.m. local time (0630 GMT) in Shazand County, when the drivers of two tip trucks and two excavators were inside the mine, according to IRNA.
Two bodies have been pulled from the debris and search was underway for the other two individuals, IRNA reported.
Managing Director of Markazi province's Red Crescent Society Alireza Shahrjerdi said there were "massive" amount of debris, noting that his society had sent 14 rescue teams to the mine.
The four were trapped inside the mine due to a landslide, which occurred probably due to "unprincipled" explosions at the mine and the rainfall the day before, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
The owner of the mine had been arrested following a judicial order, Mehdi Hashtroudi, Shazand County's public prosecutor, was quoted by Tasnim as saying.
In a phone call with the Provincial Governor of Markazi Farzad Mokhlesolaemeh on Sunday, Iran's Interim President Mohammad Mokhber called for the acceleration of the rescue operations, according to a statement published on the website of the Iranian president's office.
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