32 Dead, 16 Injured in Fire at Iranian Drug Rehabilitation Center; Manager Arrested Amid Investigation

Preliminary reports suggest a heater triggered the deadly blaze in Langarud, amid Iran's rising addiction crisis and stringent drug laws; four out of the 16 injured are in "critical condition."

A fire broke out at a drug rehabilitation center in Langarud, northern Iran, resulting in the deaths of 32 people and injury to 16, with four in critical condition.
Preliminary investigations indicate a heater in the opium rehab center may have caused the fire, which subsequently spread across the center.
The center manager and several other suspects have been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into the tragic incident.
The rehab center, with the capacity to accommodate 40 individuals, was part of Iran's efforts to tackle its severe addiction problem, amid strict drug laws and an increase in addiction rates.
Iran is one of the countries with the highest addiction issues globally, specifically opioid addiction, with a significant proportion of it having originated from poppy trafficking routes from Afghanistan to Western Europe.