On the ninth day of the collapse of the Metropole Tower, the death toll reached 34. Social media reported that “water had penetrated the negative floors of the Metropole.” The protests spread from Khuzestan to Bushehr and Tehran. Protesters chanted “Death to the dictator.”
The deputy governor of Khuzestan and the special governor of Abadan announced that the number of Metropolis victims has reached 34 with the recovery of the body of another Abadan citizen from under the rubble.
Nine days after the collapse of the 10-story Metropole building in Abadan, the bodies of some of the victims are still buried under the rubble. A worker who worked at the Metropole told ILNA news agency that on the day of the accident, “more than a dozen workers were working in the building and now they are all buried under the rubble. They are still buried under the rubble…”
State media reported dispatching operational teams to clear debris and search for people, but so far they have not been able to remove the bodies of all the victims.
Yesterday, news was also reported regarding water infiltration into the underground floors of the Abadan Metropolis.
Multiple reports have confirmed that the bodies of members of the Jalilian family, or “Uncle Fawzi Abadan,” owner of Fawzi’s ice cream shop in the Metropole Tower, were found under the rubble. Of the four members of the family, only the mother is said to have survived. The father’s body was pulled from the rubble a week later, reportedly holding his two sons.
Arabs from Khuzestan gathered in front of the Jalilian family's home to express their sympathy. The Jalilian family is a Kurdish family living in Abadan.
Continuation of protests and their expansion
The protests in Abadan continue despite the government's severe repression. The city witnessed widespread protests again on Monday evening, June 29. However, these protests were met with violence by security forces.
Videos and reports circulating online indicate that security forces have resorted to tear gas in response to the protesters. In some of the videos, gunfire can also be heard.
In addition to the cities of Khuzestan, the protests spread to other parts of the country, including Bushehr and Tehran.
In videos released from Bushehr, some protesters took to the streets holding flags and emblems of Tehran's Esteghlal football team, turning their team's championship celebration into a protest against the government, chanting slogans such as "Death to the dictator" and "Our enemy is here, they lie, it's America."
Supporting Abadan in the stadium
In footage posted on social media, football spectators at Tehran's Azadi Stadium chanted slogans at fans from Abadan.
Saeed Hafezi, a journalist from Khuzestan province, wrote on Twitter, "From the ridiculous display of the Commander's Salute to the cry of the people of Tehran in support of the people of Abadan."
As the Abadan protests spread to various cities across the country, discussions about "minors" and the factors that caused the collapse of the 10-story Metropole building have also increased.
The Minister of the Interior of the Islamic Republic says that a "major violation" occurred in the construction of the Metropole building, and instead of six floors, 10 floors were built.
Mohammad Javad Ameri, Secretary General of the Veterans Association, said in an interview with IRNA on Tuesday, May 31, that officials from the previous government, especially the governor, played a role in this matter.
To prevent the spread of news about the protests, the government has cut off the internet in Khuzestan province and other parts of Iran where protests have escalated.
