Two Explosions Kill At Least Eight People In Iran

Two separate explosions at industrial and commercial locations in Iran have killed at least eight and injured more than fifteen people, while some are still under the rubble.

The more fatal explosion happened Sunday morning in the old part of Ahvaz, the capital of the oil producing Khuzestan province. What officials described as a possible gas leak explosion at a residence next to Ameri shopping area killed at least six people and injured nine. More victims are said to be still under the rubble and emergency personnel are trying to reach possible survivors.

Mojtaba Khaledi, spokesman of Iran’s emergency services told ILNA new website that the explosion occurred at a house and “the reason is still not clear, although some say a gas leak could have caused the incident.”

Another explosion at a foundry near Tehran on Saturday killed two workers and injured ten others. Hassan Kuhneshin, the manager of Shams-Abad industrial park told the official news agency IRNA on Sunday that a furnace at Pak Bronze foundry exploded. The company manufactures parts for water pumps and employs 500 workers.

However, a member of the management team at the industrial park told the state broadcaster that the cause of the explosion is unclear.

Construction and industrial accidents are common in Iran. In 2015, 1,200 construction workers dies in work accidents, according to Akbar Shokat a representative of construction workers.ش