Ten people were killed and five wounded after a boiler exploded in a residential area of the city of Mashhad in northeast Iran on Saturday, a health official said.
The deputy head of Emergency Medical Services, Hassan Nouri, said the incident occurred at 5:47 am (local time) in a two-story building in Mashhad, Fars News Agency reported.
The huge explosion completely destroyed three residential buildings damaged 15 other houses in the area. It was not clear what caused the blast.
He said six people were killed on the spot and four succumbed to death in the hospital.
The official added that five other people were injured in the incident and transferred to a hospital in the city.
The search operation to find victims trapped under the rubble is underway.
Pictures posted on social media showed rescue workers digging through the rubble of buildings in scenes reminiscent of buildings that collapse after an earthquake.
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