Many Iran firefighters feared trapped in building collapse

Many firefighters were feared trapped under the rubble after Iran's oldest high-rise, the 15-storey Plasco building in downtown Tehran, collapsed live on TV on Jan. 19, following a fire.

Officials had yet to confirm if anyone had been killed, but Tehran mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told state television that between 20 and 25 firefighters were thought to be inside when the building fell, according to AFP.  

Some 200 had been tackling the blaze at the Plasco building, which dated from the 1960s and included a shopping center and clothing workshops.

The head of Tehran's emergency services told state TV that at least 70 firefighters had been injured and 23 hospitalized as they rushed to evacuate the building.

"I was inside and suddenly I felt the building is shaking and is about to collapse. As we gathered colleagues and got out, a minute later the building collapsed," said Ali, a firefighter at the scene.

Dramatic images showed flames pouring out of the top floors of the building just before it came down.

"The building's caretaker and some firefighters were inside when the building collapsed," said Ahmad, the owner of one of its shops.

"I've lost my entire stock. Thousands of families have been ruined," he added.

The steel skeleton of the building could be seen bending down to the ground as around 100 fire engines and dozens of ambulances surrounded the area.  

"A friend of mine has a shop there. I keep calling him but there's no answer. I think he's been trapped," said Mohsen, an onlooker.  

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called for an immediate investigation into the causes of the incident, calling it "unfortunate and sorrowful." 

"More than 30 times we warned the...