Araz News:A massive fire erupted  in a mega mall in downtown Tehran, the city’s most populous area, bringing the whole the 17-story building down on  Thursday 19 January 2017.

Thirty firefighters have lost their lives, according to IRIB. The death toll is expected to rise. More than 100 people are estimated to have been trapped under rubble.

Other resources said one reporter and one photographer have lost their lives, as well.

Seventy people have been taken to hospital, according to the latest reports.

Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has told the state-run IRIB TV that at least 20 firefighters were killed as the high-rise Plasco building crumbled after a massive fire.

The 53-year-old building was one of the oldest shopping centers in Tehran, home to a hundred of boutiques.

According to recent information from Tehran local media, Tehran urban management is also being questioned due to unprepared at the accident site. It should be noted that the fire department of capital does not have enough facilities to manage such crises. Even, they have not  a helicopter for its operations.

At the same time, a massive protest has started against the mayor of Tehran Mr. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on social media. Hundreds of users of virtual networks with the hashtag of resignation for  Ghalibaf (#قالیباف_استعفا ) have shown their protest to Incompetence of Tehran mayor and demanding to resign .

South Azerbaijan people expresses their sympathy to the grieving family of this tragedy.

Araz News will continue to monitor the situation for any further developments.

BY-A.A