A local MP is denying reports that Elham Esmailpour, one of the students who suffered burns in a school fire last Wednesday in Sheenabad in Western Azerbaijan, has become the second student to die from the mishap.
MP Rasoul Khezri told Mehr News that after reports of the second death were published on Monday, he contacted the Tabirz hospital, only to discover that Esmailpour, while in critical condition, had not passed away.
A hospital report indicates: “The medical staff are hopeful that despite the critical condition of the second student, she may pull through; however, there are still three students in the critical care unit.”
On Wednesday December 4, a malfunctioning heater burst in an elementary school grade four class, injuring 37 students. On Sunday, Siran Yeganeh, one of the victims of the incident, succumbed to her injuries.
Khezri added: “Two of the students who suffered burns to their lungs are currently in critical condition."
The death of a second victim was also denied by Oroumiyeh city officials in an interview with ILNA.
Education Minister Hamidreza Hajibabayi has been heavily criticized for the incident, and many MPs have called for his resignation, as have 80 Kurdish activists.
