TEHRAN: At least three Iranian policemen were killed, and 11 others sustained injuries when several buildings collapsed in the capital city of Tehran on Sunday. The officers were present to secure the planned demolition of “unauthorized buildings” in the southwest area of the city, according to the ISNA news agency.
During the demolition of the first building, five others unexpectedly collapsed, leading to the loss of lives and injuries. The incident prompted rescue operations to search for individuals trapped under the rubble.
The buildings that collapsed were found to be in violation of construction safety measures, according to a statement from the police. The incident highlights the ongoing issue of unauthorized constructions in the city.
Unauthorized Buildings in Tehran
Authorities in Tehran have been actively addressing the problem of unauthorized buildings, and a city official reported that over 46,000 such structures had been demolished in the past two years.
This unfortunate incident adds to a history of building collapses in Iran, with one of the deadliest occurrences happening in May 2022. The collapse of the 10-storey Metropol building in the city of Abadan, Khuzestan province, claimed the lives of 43 people and sparked protests nationwide, denouncing corruption and the incompetence of authorities in handling such matters.
