Death Toll of Stampede in Southern Iran Rises to 40: Official
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The latest death toll of a stampede in Iran’s southern city of Kerman during the funeral of revered commander Lt. General Qassem Soleimani reached 40, the head of the emergency medical services announced.
Pir-Hossein Kolivand said at least forty people have lost their lives and 213 others were injured during the Tuesday stampede in Kerman.
All the injured were immediately rushed to hospital and they are now under treatment, the official stated.
“We are investigating the extent of the incident and will provide additional information through the national media as soon as the health conditions of the injured are determined,” Kolivand said.
A procession in Tehran on Monday drew more than one million people in the Iranian capital, crowding both main thoroughfares and side streets.
General Soleimani, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was the deputy head of Iraq’s Hashd al-Sha'abi (PMU), and a number of their entourage were killed in a strike by American drones near Baghdad International Airport in the early hours of Friday.
The White House and the Pentagon claimed responsibility for the assassination of General Soleimani in Iraq, saying the attack was carried out at the direction of US President Donald Trump.
In a message on Friday morning, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei warned that harsh revenge awaits the criminals behind the martyrdom of General Soleimani.
Ayatollah Khamenei also reminded all friends and enemies of the Iranian general that the resistance path will continue vigorously, stressing that continued battle and ultimate victory will disappoint the murderers and criminals.