At least five dead, dozens injured in building collapse in SW Iran

HOSSEIN ABDOLLAH ASL/TASNIM
People gather in front of the debris form the collapse of a 10-story building in the southwestern Iranian city of Abadan on May 23, 2022 as firefighters try to search through the rubble for those trapped beneath it.

National Desk

At least five were reported dead and 25 others injured as a result of the sudden collapse of parts of a 10-story commercial building in the southwestern Iranian city of Abadan on Monday, said the head of the Medical Sciences Emergency and Disaster Management Department of Ahvaz Jondishapur University of Medical Sciences.

Farhang Karehbandi added 20 ambulances, three ambulance buses and a helicopter have been sent to the scene of the incident, IRNA reported. ‎

Commenting on the incident, the spokesman for Iran’s emergency services Mojtaba Khaledi said rescue operations are being carried out with two teams of search and rescue dogs, IRIB reported.

Moreover, President of Red Crescent Khuzestan Vahid Shabani noted that eyewitnesses say at least 80 people are trapped under the rubble.

After the incident, the building, known as Metropol, was evacuated completely and the main street leading to it was blocked by police as a safety measure. The collapse sent a severe tremor to nearby buildings.