Massive explosion at battery shop in Iran kills 1, damages 30 buildings

A massive explosion ripped through a battery store in Nasimshahr, a city in Iran’s Tehran province, killing at least one person and damaging 30 surrounding buildings as well as nearby cars.

The explosion happened on Friday evening local time, in the city some 15 kilometers southwest of Tehran. Videos from the area show shattered glass and debris everywhere, and fire trucks still on the scene.

بر اثر #انفجار در یک باطری‌سازی در نسیم شهر در حوالی تهران یک نفر جان باخت و ۲۰ نفر زخمی شدند.در این انفجار بخش‌هایی از یک ساختمان سه طبقه فرو ریخت و به ۳۰ ساختمان و ۲۳ خودرو خسارت وارد شد. کیان سلطانپور، مسئول آتش نشانی شهرداری نسیم شهر، گفت که یک نفر در این مغازه جان باخته است pic.twitter.com/JB0JmAvgOh

— ايران اينترنشنال (@IranIntl) September 11, 2020

The blast wave smashed glass in a wide radius and was so strong that some of the buildings saw their walls crack, the municipal fire chief said, according to the Mehr news agency. 

“This accident, the exact cause of which is still unknown, has caused damage to more than 32 vehicles,” fire chief Kian Sultanpour said. About 30 buildings were affected by the blast.

One person who was inside the shop died in the explosion, Sultanpour confirmed. The three-story building was partially destroyed.

BREAKING: Huge explosion in #Nasimshahr, #Iran—widespread damage. pic.twitter.com/bxeiIBY1w6

— SV News ? (@SVNewsAlerts) September 11, 2020

The Nasimshahr blast is the latest in a series of explosions occurring across Iran since June, starting with missile depots and nuclear research sites, but since affecting power plants, chemical factories and shops as well. 

While officials have attributed the explosions to a variety of causes, from faulty wiring to industrial accidents, the unusual frequency has led to speculation that a cyber war with Israel might be taking place. 

RT