A high-rise shopping mall in central Tehran has collapsed after being engulfed in flames.<br /><br /> Initially state media reported dozens of firefighters had been killed, the statement was then withdrawn.<br /><br /> A shopping complex built in early 60s in central Tehran collapses due to heavy fire.#Plasco #پلاسکو pic.twitter.com/pPAMVPGnZg— Sattar Saeedi (@SattarSaeedi) January 19, 2017<br /> <br /><br /> Emergency services were battling the blaze at the Plasco building, at around 8am local time when the 17-storey structure plummeted to the ground within seconds.<br /><br /> Those that perished were buried by the falling masonry.<br /><br /> Aerial shot of Tehran's Plasco building on fire before it collapsed. #Iran #پلاسکو pic.twitter.com/M0veOS6HOi— Hanif Zarrabi-K. (@hanifzk) January 19, 2017<br /> <br /><br /> Witnesses and those fighting the fire looked on in horror as the construction collapsed and plume of thick brown smoke and dust rose above the debris. <br /><br /> Reports indicate that scores of people have been injured. <br /><br /> Fire destroys high-rise building and killed at least 30 #firefighters in #Tehran #Iran #AA #Plasco #fire #collapse pic.twitter.com/zToXFchRHm— Anadolu Images (@anadoluimages) January 19, 2017<br /> <br />The Plasco building was erected in the early 60s by Iranian Jewish businessman Habib Elghanian and named after his plastics manufacturing company. <br /><br /> The Iranian military are on the scene helping in the search for victims and survivors.<br />
