A fire tore through a commercial complex near Iran’s capital Tehran on Tuesday, killing at least eight people and injuring 41 others, state media reported.

The blaze broke out at the Arghavan commercial complex in the city of Andisheh, west of Tehran.

Footage broadcast by state television showed a multi-story building engulfed in flames with thick black smoke rising into the sky.

What happened at the Arghavan commercial complex fire?

The fire broke out at the Arghavan complex, a large building containing more than 250 commercial units and 50 office units.

State television reported 41 people were injured in the blaze. Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the fire.

What action have Iranian authorities taken?

The Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Shahriar has called for a formal investigation to identify possible culprits. An arrest warrant has also been issued for the building’s constructor. The move suggests authorities suspect negligence in the complex’s construction or safety standards.

Fires are common in Iran but rarely result in significant casualties.

The Andisheh blaze is among the deadliest commercial building fires in the country in recent years. In January 2017, a fire at the 15-storey Plasco shopping center in Tehran killed at least 22 people, including 16 firefighters. In June 2020, an explosion caused by gas canisters at a clinic in northern Tehran killed at least 19 people.