Three workers die in building collapse in Tehran
Three workers were killed when a building under demolition collapsed in Tehran. Iranian law enforcement is investigating the cause of the accident. Labor accidents and the rate of deaths and injuries from work-related accidents is very high in Iran.
The bodies of three workers who were buried under the rubble of a collapsed building on Zafar Street in northern Tehran were pulled out by firefighters after 10 hours.
Jalal Maleki, spokesman for the Tehran Municipality Fire and Safety Services Organization, said today, Friday, August 9: "At 4:58 p.m. yesterday, workers were demolishing a three-story building when suddenly the southeastern part of the building collapsed, trapping four workers under the rubble."
According to ILNA news agency, Maleki added: "In the very first moments, firefighters pulled a worker out of the rubble alive but injured, and due to the large volume of rubble, the firefighters' search and debris removal operations continued until 3 a.m.."
According to a spokesman for the Tehran Fire Department, firefighters pulled three workers out of the rubble after 10 hours, and emergency personnel at the scene confirmed that all three construction workers had lost their lives.
Jalal Maleki also announced, referring to the end of the fire rescue operation, that the cause of the fatal incident is “under investigation” and that the location “will be handed over to law enforcement for further investigation.”
In an interview with ISNA, a spokesman for the Tehran Fire Department stated that "the scene of the incident was an old three-story building that was being demolished," adding that workers were working in the southeastern section of the three-story building when this section suddenly collapsed, trapping three workers under the rubble.
Labor accidents and the rate of death and injury from work accidents in Iran are very high and work safety is low. Meanwhile, the lives and health of construction workers are at risk more than in other sectors. About three years ago, Mehr News Agency quoted the head of the Construction Workers Association as saying that Iran “holds the record in the world with 15,000 worker accidents.”
Source: DW
