Chemical plant blast injures 133 people in Iran
17 June 2022
An explosion at a chemical plant in southern Iran injured 133 people on June 13 after a leak from an ammonium tank ignited. The incident happened in the city of Firouzabad, around 480 miles (770km) south of Tehran near Iran's Persian Gulf coast.
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According to Iranian state news agency IRNA, firefighters were called to the scene on Monday evening and were able to extinguish a fire that had been caused by the explosion. The provincial health department said that 133 people were injured and taken to hospital. The majority of the injured were workers at the chemical facility which opened in 2020.
By June 14, 114 of the injured had been released from hospital. A health official said that the majority of the injures were respiratory. Several surrounding roads were closed in the hours after the incident after a toxic gas clous developed.
Iran has experienced several industrial safety incidents in recent years. While specific details about incidents are kept secret, news reports have suggested that many are the result of technical failures or poor maintenance. Due to ongoing sanctions, it can be difficult for Iranian companies to access modern equipment. Iran has also blamed some incidents on Israel, including the April 2021 explosion at the Natanz nuclear plant.