Iran: Tehran explosion kills 1, injures 19

explosion

TEHRAN, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least one person was killed and 19 others injured on Monday after an explosion shook and dismantled a three-storey residential building in Iran's capital Tehran, the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported.

The explosion, which occurred on Monday morning in District 20 of Tehran due to gas leakage, also severely damaged several dilapidated buildings and cars, ISNA quoted Ali Nasiri, the president of Tehran Disaster Mitigation and Management Organization, as saying.

The victim was identified as a 75-year-old woman, Nasiri said, adding all the rescued from the rubble had been handed over to medical emergency staff.

Three people are in a critical condition, ISNA reported, citing Mohammad Esmaeil Tavakoli, head of Tehran's medical emergency organization.

In remarks to ISNA, Tehran Fire Department Chief Qodratollah Mohammadi said firefighters from five stations have rushed to the scene and 12 people have been rescued.