IFP- Qalibaf, who had left his trip to Qom unfinished to be present at the scene, told IRIB reporter that the blaze in Plasco shopping centre, a 53-year-old building in central Tehran, started at 7:59 am (Tehran local time).

“Firefighters arrived at the scene in 2 to 3 minutes. Fortunately all ordinary citizens and shop owners were evacuated before the collapse using rescue ladders and emergency exit,” he noted.

“I ask people not to believe the rumours and statistics released by unofficial sources.”

“Almost 25 firefighters are entrapped under the building’s heavy rubble, and we are doing our best to rescue them all. It’s very difficult and should be carried out with immediate plans,” Qalibaf added.

Dozens of firefighters have volunteered to help their colleagues even though they were off-duty.