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Tehran: At least three people were killed when a seven-storey building collapsed in Tehran on Monday, according to Iran's fire department.
"Workers were sleeping in the building which collapsed in the morning," Tehran prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi was quoted as saying by state radio.
"When the building collapsed the entire workforce of around 20 were in it and so far no one has been rescued," Mortazavi said.
The student news agency Isna said that three bodies had been recovered from the rubble. State radio, however, gave a death toll of 19.
Rescue workers were trying to search for any survivor buried in the rubble and have also used sniffer dogs.
"We have so far unearthed three bodies," said Behrouz Tashakkor, spokesman for Tehran's fire department. "How many more there are under the rubble, I don't know. We are continuing to remove the rubble."
The building has been on the verge of collapsing and occupants reportedly ignored notices to vacate one month ago.
Authorities have detained five people, including the building owner and contractors, over the incident.
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