Metropole collapses; popular protests continue in Shadegan

Other videos posted online show protesters blocking the Andimeshk-Ahuzar road by burning tires.

Special forces vehicles arrive in Abadan

Another video shows dozens of special anti-riot unit vehicles entering Abadan. The person who filmed the video says, "We need troops to clear the rubble, but they sent bulletproof vehicles."

Journalist Dariush Memar wrote in a tweet that "security forces tried to link the people's protests to separatism in order to find an excuse for repression. The people of Abadan, Khorramshahr, Arab, Fars, Kurd, Lor, and Bakhtiari have already passed their test in defending every inch of this land."

As the number of victims of the Metropole Tower collapse increases, protests continue in recent days, and efforts to pull bodies from the rubble are still ongoing, discussions are ongoing about who is responsible and what caused the building to collapse.

Saeed Hafezi, a journalist from Khuzestan Province, wrote on Twitter: "Hamid Maranipour, the prosecutor of Abadan, said, 'No one announced the problems of the Metropol in writing so that I could come in!'"

Sadegh Khalilian, the governor of Khuzestan, told reporters on Tuesday, June 1: "Some officials of Khuzestan province who were involved in the "Abdol Baqi Construction" case between 1995 and the first half of 1401 and were even present at the opening of the building were investigated."

According to the governor of Khuzestan, all other buildings built by Abdul Baqi Holding in Khuzestan Province will be inspected to prevent another disaster.

Among the names that will be investigated in connection with the Metropole disaster, according to local media, is the name of Ali Shariati, the former governor of Khuzestan. Shariati's wife reacted to the accusations made against her husband in connection with the opening of the Metropole in an Instagram message.

In this message, Maryam Mohebi, while sympathizing with the people of Abadan, wrote: “The notice to stop work was issued by the new government and has nothing to do with the previous government.” The wife of the former governor emphasizes, “Neither obtaining a permit nor its technical supervision has anything to do with the governor’s office and is simply the specialized work of the municipality and the engineering system.”

On Monday, June 2, 2022, part of Tower 2 of the Metropole building collapsed in central Abadan. According to Abadan Governor Ehsan Abbaspour, the identities of 37 people who died in the Metropole accident have been confirmed so far. The number of people still buried under the rubble has not yet been announced.