The chaotic scene during rescue efforts after collapse of Metropol building, May 25, 2022
The mayor of Iran's southwestern city of Abadan, which was the hotbed of protests after the deadly collapse of a high-rise building on May 22, has resigned.
Hossein Hamidpour, who was reportedly arrested along with five preceding mayors and another five city officials involved in the construction of Metropol Twin Towers project, resigned on Saturday.
The city council appointed Mohammadreza Motavvar, the head of Abadan’s urban development organization, as the new caretaker of the municipality.
Hamidpour, who appeared at the scene of the incident in the early hours after the collapse, was reportedly beaten and booed by the angry residents.
According to reports, the bodies of 40 victims of the collapse have been recovered but an equal number of people are still missing.
Soon after the collapse it became apparent that the owner and builder of the building, Hossein Abdolbaghi, was a powerful and politically well-connected businessman who had disregarded regulations and building codes, being backed by officials, who might have had their own financial interests.
Journalists and social media users accuse authorities of covering up his escape by claiming that he died in the incident.
The collapse of the building led to protests in Abadan as well as in several other cities across Khuzestan who took to the streets to demand accountability. The incident also had national ramifications as an example of government corruption.