Two young brothers killed in building collapse found hugging in rubble – World News

The bodies of brothers Erfan and Arian Jalilian were found in the rubble of the collapse of the Metropol building in Iran. The collapse of a 10-story building has claimed 37 lives so far

The bodies of two brothers hugging were pulled from the rubble after being killed in an Iranian building collapse that has now claimed 37 lives.

Emergency services continue to find bodies in the ruins of the Metropol building that crashed May 23 in Abadan, southwestern Iran.

Authorities are expected to find more bodies as the 10-storey commercial and residential building has collapsed, with a total of 37 so far, while injuring about 40 people.

A search team found four bodies from the same family in the basement of the collapsed Metropol building, according to local reports.

Brothers Erfan and Arian Jalilian were found hugging and the body of their father Fawzi Jalilian was found in the rubble, as was his nephew Hamid Reza Jalilian.

As the rescue mission continues, protests have taken place in several Iranian cities following the building collapse, with angry protesters accusing the government of the tragedy of negligence and endemic corruption.

Authorities have blamed individual negligence and poor safety protocols for the building collapse and have arrested at least 13 people so far.

“Death to Khamenei” shouts, referring to the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, were heard in several cities, including Tehran and the port city of Bushehr. Anti-Khamenei rhetoric is seen as a red line in the country.

Another unconfirmed video shows riot police riding motorcycles in the same area, apparently to disrupt or intimidate protesters.

In the southern port city of Bushehr, protesters can be heard shouting “Death to the dictator,” also a reference to Khamenei.

“They lie it’s America; our enemy is right here,” they yell. It’s a common slogan at anti-government protests in Iran.

Videos of protests in other Iranian cities are also being posted on social media.

Iranian police have used tear gas and fired gunfire in the air to disperse crowds and clashed with protesters during the week-long protests.

In covering the disaster, official Iranian media have mainly shown religious mourning and funeral processions. In a speech on state television, the Abadan governor has warned people to follow official media only and avoid “rumours” circulating on social media.

Iranians are already frustrated by high food prices and economic woes at a time when efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and thus lift sanctions have stalled.