Many feared dead as Iran high-rise building collapses

Many firefighters are feared dead after a landmark high-rise building in Iran's capital, Tehran, caught fire and collapsed, state media report. Two hundred had battled the blaze in the 17-storey Plasco building for several hours before it fell to the ground in a matter of seconds. More than 200 people were also reportedly injured in the incident.Completed in 1962, the building was once Tehran's tallest and contained a shopping centre and clothing workshops. The fire reportedly began around 08:00 (04:30 GMT) on Thursday, at a time when many of the shopkeepers were not inside.

Emergency Medical Services chief Pir-Hossein Kolivand told the official Irna news agency that many firefighters were feared dead but did not give an exact figure. The state-run English Press TV channel cited an official as saying that between 50 to 100 people were believed to have been trapped under the rubble. Police have cordoned off Jomhoori avenue, which passes by the building, as well as the nearby British and Turkish embassies, according to Irna.

Source: BBC