Gathering of Abadan Citizens to Protest Against ‘Incompetent Officials’
Based on videos circulated on social media, a number of Abadan citizens held demonstrations in connection with the collapse of the Metropol building. It is reported that internet mobile lines in some Khuzestan cities have been cut off for a period of time.
Videos published on social media indicate protests by several Abadan citizens on Wednesday evening, June 4 (May 25).
Protesters, chanting various slogans such as “Abadani, rise up, your brother was killed,” “Cleric, go away,” “Not Gaza, not Lebanon, my life is for Iran,” “Death to the incompetent official,” and “Incompetent official, resign, resign,” expressed their anger over officials’ response to the collapse of the Metropol tower in Abadan.
Based on reports from social media users in Abadan, Andimeshk, Ramhormouz, and several other Khuzestan cities, mobile internet lines were cut off for several hours or were extremely weak.
According to the latest official figures, at least 16 people have been killed and 37 injured in the building collapse.
In the past three days, images of scattered protests by Abadan citizens have also been released.
Social media users have also stated that with increasing temperatures, the smell of decay emanates from the rubble removal site.
According to Tasnim news agency, this incident “has been suffering from the lack of unified command until now.”
Tasnim continued in its report: “What the current situation is, what is needed, and what people should do, all further demonstrated the absence of unified command.”
According to Mohammad Naseri, Khuzestan’s representative in the Supreme Council of Provinces, this incident was the result of violations by the private sector, the engineering organization, the municipality, and the city council.
Naseri, while noting that if this incident had occurred at night, the number of casualties would have been far greater, emphasized: “People are upset about this tragedy and they have the right to be upset.”
The governor of Khuzestan announced that the structure of the Metropol building was very heavy and technical considerations were not taken into account. According to Sadegh Khalilian, the building was designed for six floors but after three floors were built, two additional floors were later added to it.
Source: DW
