Nine Workers Killed in Deadly Fire at Dowlatabad Industrial Estate; Safety Failures Under Scrutiny

According to the Supporters of Occupational Health and Safety News Agency, citing ILNA, a labor source in Iran’s Isfahan Province has provided new details about a fire that broke out at an industrial facility in the Dowlatabad Industrial Estate, located in Barkhar County, resulting in the tragic death of nine workers.

The incident occurred at approximately 9:00 a.m. on the previous day, when a fire engulfed one of the factories operating in the industrial town. The source confirmed that several of the victims were women, while no official information has yet been released regarding the number or condition of possible injured workers.

According to preliminary reports, the deceased workers were stationed on the upper floors of the factory and are believed to have died as a result of carbon monoxide inhalation and heavy smoke exposure caused by the fire. The victims were reportedly transferred to medical centers but succumbed to their injuries shortly afterward.

The labor activist attributed the severity of the incident to weak safety oversight in industrial workplaces, noting that inadequate enforcement of occupational safety standards continues to pose serious risks to workers’ lives, particularly in high‑risk facilities.

Commenting on the emergency response, the source stated that firefighters from the Dowlatabad Industrial Estate arrived at the scene in a timely manner and made significant efforts to contain the blaze. However, eyewitness accounts suggest that insufficient specialized equipment may have limited rescue operations, contributing to increased human and financial losses.

The source further emphasized that faster rescue and medical intervention could have potentially reduced the number of fatalities and the severity of injuries sustained during the incident. As of the time of publication, no detailed information has been made available regarding the condition of potential survivors.

Addressing the victims’ employment status, the labor source explained that some of the deceased were female workers, including several women who were heads of households. These workers were reportedly employed in the packaging of electronic equipment at the facility.

In conclusion, the labor activist called for stricter safety regulations and enhanced supervision of high‑risk industrial workshops, warning that continued neglect of occupational safety standards will lead to the recurrence of such tragic incidents and further loss of workers’ lives.