37 injured in south Iran shopping center fire

Cause of incident, which reportedly began with an explosion, still under investigation

TEHRAN — Iranian state TV reported Saturday that a fire at a shopping center in southern Fars province has injured 37 people.

The IRIB broadcaster said the fire in Shiraz city was started by an explosion early Saturday.

IRIB quoted Mohammad Reza Alimanesh, head of the provincial emergency organization, as saying 15 of the injured were hospitalized.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency said the cause of incident was under investigation.

During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when observers fast from dawn till dusk, it is not unusual for shopping centers to be busy with customers late in the evening.

In January, 26 people including 16 firefighters were killed when a building collapsed following a fire in downtown Tehran. Officials blamed it on an electric short circuit.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.

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