Four killed, 80 trapped in Iran building collapse

At least four people have died and about 80 are trapped under rubble after an unfinished building collapses in southwestern Iran, officials say.

“Parts of the 10-story Metropol building, located in Abadan, capital of Khuzestan province, collapsed,” state television says, noting that the premises were still under construction.

An initial toll confirms that at least “four people have lost their lives and 21 others have been injured,” Mojtaba Khaledi, spokesman for the national rescue service, is quoted as saying.

At least 80 people are trapped under the rubble and rescue dogs are being deployed to help locate them, according to a regional branch of the Red Crescent.