At least 13 die as huge explosion tears through buildings in Iranian capital Tehran
- Ten women and three men are reported to have died in the explosion on June 30
- The explosion occurred at the Sina At’har health centre in the north of the capital
- A number of videos on social media appeared to show multiple explosions
Thirteen people were killed and six injured on Tuesday in an explosion at a medical clinic in the north of the Iranian capital Tehran, Fars news agency reported, quoting a state official.
The blast was triggered by a gas leak, Tehran Deputy Governor Hamid Reza Goudarzi told state television.
Ten women and three men died in the explosion at the Sina At’har health centre, Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi said on the TV.
Videos posted on social media appeared to show multiple explosions at the north Tehran site and firefighters using ladders to access the roof of the building.
The authenticity of the videos could not be independently verified.
Iran’s supreme leader – Ali Khamenei – is yet to make a statement.
Pictured: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei clad in a face mask as a protective measure due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, while seated beneath a picture of his predecessor Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, during a meeting in the capital Tehran, June 30
A fire caused by the blast has been extinguished, Jalal Maleki, the Tehran Fire Department spokesman said on state TV.
Two adjacent buildings were also damaged by the explosion.
The clinic, which had 25 employees inside at the time of the blast, primarily carries out light surgeries and medical imaging, Harirchi said.
Last week, an explosion occurred close to a sensitive military site near Tehran which the defence ministry said was caused by a leaking tank at a gas storage facility. No deaths or injuries were reported.