Death toll reaches 29 after shopping centre under construction collapses in Iran
- The 10-storey Metropol shopping centre in the port city of Abadan collapsed on Monday
- Further bodies are likely to be found under the rubble but the danger that the structure will collapse is hindering rescue efforts, local news agency Tasnim reported
At least 29 people are now known to have died after a shopping centre that was under construction collapsed in south-western Iran, Interior Minister Ahmad Wahidi said on Saturday, while people protested at the site of the accident.
Further bodies are likely to be found under the rubble but the danger that the structure will collapse is hindering rescue efforts, Tasnim news agency reported him as saying.
The 10-storey Metropol shopping centre in the port city of Abadan was under construction and collapsed on Monday.
Critics say the building work was sloppy due to efforts to save on costs and the project manager and 10 other people involved have reportedly been arrested. The owner was among the dead.
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People turned out to protest in front of the shopping centre on Friday evening and some clashed with the police and security forces, Tasnim reported.
Police used tear gas and fired warning shots to bring the demonstration under control.
The people were protesting against the builders, according to Iranian media. Some blamed the government for the building’s collapse, according to videos shared on social media, although the posts could not be independently verified.
