32 killed, 17 injured in fire at rehab center in N. Iran

fire at rehab center

TEHRAN, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- At least 32 people were killed and 17 others injured on Friday in a fire in the northern Iranian province of Gilan, the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported.

The fire erupted in the early morning hours at a rehabilitation center in Langarud County, ISNA quoted Deputy Governor of Gilan for Political, Security and Social Affairs Mohammad Jalaei as saying.

He noted that four of the injured were intubated, and the rest were in better condition, putting the center's capacity for patients at 40.

Iran's Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei has ordered a full investigation into the incident, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

The cause of the fire will be announced after accurate examinations by experts, Tasnim quoted Esmaeil Sadeqi-Niaraki, the head of Gilan's justice department, as saying.

Sadeqi-Niaraki said the necessary judicial orders had been issued, adding that the rehabilitation center's management was under surveillance and its head had been detained.

He added that all the injured had been transferred to the hospital.