A catastrophic fire engulfed the Se Gol vegetable oil factory in Neyshabur, Khorasan Razavi province, on the morning of December 4, claiming the lives of at least three workers and injuring another. The tragedy comes amid a backdrop of rising workplace fatalities in Iran, exposing the regime’s chronic failure to ensure basic safety standards for its labor force.
According to Habib Sokaki, deputy governor of Zebrkhan County, the fire started at approximately 8:30 a.m. in the oil extraction unit. “Three workers were trapped on the upper floors and lost their lives,” Sokaki said, adding that the blaze took over two hours to bring under control.
Hamid Hosseini, a hospital official in Neyshabur, reported to state media Mehr News that the fatalities were caused by asphyxiation from toxic smoke. One injured worker is receiving treatment in a local hospital. The head of Neyshabur’s Fire Department, Abolfazl Asadi, described the scene as “exceptionally challenging” due to an explosion in the facility’s oil tank. “The fire’s cause remains under investigation,” he noted.
#Iran News:
One Dead, Several Injured in Shushtar Refinery #Fire Amid Safety Concernshttps://t.co/ZodZMfUIcv— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) October 16, 2024
This incident follows another industrial disaster just days earlier when a fire at the Sorkheh Steel Plant in Semnan province resulted in one death and two injuries. Such accidents are far from isolated. According to the regime’s Legal Medicine Organization, over 2,100 workers lost their lives in workplace accidents during the Persian calendar year 1402 (March 2023-March 2024). The ongoing spate of tragedies reflects systemic failures in workplace safety enforcement, particularly in high-risk industries.
State officials, often quick to deflect blame, announced the formation of a judicial investigation into the Neyshabur fire. Mohammad Dehnavi, head of Zebrkhan’s judiciary, stated, “Initial findings suggest technical issues were responsible. We have initiated legal actions and are providing support to the victims’ families.” Critics, however, argue that such investigations rarely lead to meaningful accountability.
#Iran News in Brief
Explosion & fire reported at Aftab Oil Refinery in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran. Several casualties reported. Details unfolding.https://t.co/N6o9QBiTc0 pic.twitter.com/pq6vNCVcAh— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) March 7, 2024
Iran’s industrial sector has a long history of safety violations exacerbated by the regime’s indifference. The Neyshabur tragedy mirrors the recent Tabas mining disaster, where over 50 miners perished due to preventable conditions. Methane gas explosions, poor ventilation, and inadequate emergency protocols were cited as primary causes. Despite these repeated warnings, the regime has consistently failed to prioritize worker safety over its own political and economic interests.
The clerical regime’s fear of social unrest plays a key role in its handling of such incidents. Recent protests by labor unions and families of victims have been met with repression, further fueling public outrage. As workplace fatalities mount, so does the likelihood of broader dissent against the regime’s systemic neglect.
