Toxic gas leak, fire kill 5 workers near Iranian capital

TEHRAN, Iran – The Iranian media say a toxic gas leak and a fire have killed five workers in two separate incidents at plants near the capital, Tehran.

The official IRNA news agency says four of the workers were killed in the gas leak at a paper mill about 20 kilometres, or 12.5 miles, southeast of Tehran.

And west of Tehran, an explosion following a fire at a chemical plant killed one worker and injured dozens. Several cars were also burnt in the blaze.

Monday’s reports say authorities are investigating the incidents.

Fires and similar incidents occur occasionally in Iran’s aging oil-related facilities and other plants that were hit hard by years of Western sanctions.

A worker was killed last Wednesday when a fire broke out at a petrochemical complex in southern Iran.