Abadan building collapse
 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Persian. (June 2022) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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 Site of the collapsed Metropol building on 23 May 2022 | |
| Date | 23 May 2022 |
|---|---|
| Location | Abadan, Iran |
| Coordinates | 30°20′00″N 48°17′10″E / 30.333223°N 48.286194°E |
| Type | Building collapse |
| Deaths | 41 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 37 |
On 23 May 2022, the Metropol building, a ten-story residential and commercial building in Abadan, Iran, collapsed while under construction. As of 6 June 2022[update], at least 41 people had died and 37 people were injured in the incident, according to Iranian state media.[1][2] In the following weeks, demonstrations related to the incident have occurred in the Khuzestan province, where Abadan is located, and other parts of Iran.
Incident
The Metropol building was an unfinished ten-story residential and commercial building in the Iranian city of Abadan in the province of Khuzestan.[3][4] On 23 May 2022, the building collapsed. The Mehr News Agency reported later that day that more than 80 people were trapped under the building's rubble.[3] Iranian state media reported the following day that at least eleven people had been killed in the collapse. It was also reported that, through the following day, an investigation of the incident was ordered by Khuzestan's judiciary head, and ten people had been detained, including the owner of the building, the contractor who had constructed it, and the mayor of Abadan.[3][5] By 4 June, they had announced that they had made a total of thirteen arrests in connection to the incident.[4]
By 31 May, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported that a total of 34 people had been killed in the incident and that four people were still missing.[6] Authorities announced by 1 June that the death toll had risen to 37 and that 37 people had been injured in the incident.[7] By the following week, the death toll rose to 41, as stated to the IRNA by Abadan governor Ehsan Abbaspour.[1]
Aftermath
Demonstrations across Khuzestan province and various cities throughout Iran occurred in the week following the building collapse, which had combined with several weeks of ongoing demonstrations over rising food costs.[6][9][2] BBC News and Reuters news agency have reported that protestors have blamed the incident on government negligence and graft and chanted slogans targeted at government officials including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.[6][7][9] In contrast, Iranian authorities have blamed the collapse on "local corruption and lax safety standards."[4]
According to Reuters, coverage of the incident by Iranian state media mainly comprised "religious mourning and funeral processions." The governor of Abadan spoke on state television to caution people to only follow official media coverage and avoid "rumours" discussed on social media.[9] In a televised address on 4 June, Khamenei accused "enemies" of Iran of causing unrest in order to overthrow the state. He also accused the United States and its allies of conducting a "psychological war" against Iran, after the countries had accused Iran of piracy for its seizure of two Greek ships. The United States had seized Iranian oil from a Greek tanker earlier on 27 May.[2][4]
References
- ^ a b "Death toll from Iran building collapse rises to 41". France 24. Agence France-Presse. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
- ^ a b c "Iran's Khamenei accuses 'enemy' of stirring up protests". BBC News. 4 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- ^ a b c "Iran: Scores trapped as building collapses in Abadan". Deutsche Welle. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Khamenei blames Iran unrest on 'enemies' out to overthrow Islamic Republic". Reuters. 4 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- ^ "Iran detains city mayor and others after building collapse kills at least 11". Dubai. Reuters. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- ^ a b c Berg, Raffi (31 May 2022). "Iran building collapse: Protesters turn on government over disaster". BBC News. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Iranians mourn building collapse victims as protests continue". Dubai. Reuters. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
- ^ "غمگین ترین مادر ایران را بشناسید ؟! + شادترین عکس این مادر که رنگ باخت !". Rokna (in Persian).
- ^ a b c "Protesters chant 'death to Khamenei' over Iranian building collapse". Reuters. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.