DUBAI: Iranian police used tear gas andfired shots in the air to disperse another night of protestsover a deadly building collapse in the southwestern city ofAbadan that officials are blaming on corruption and lax safety,Fars news agency and reports on social media said.

Officials in the oil producing region of Khuzestan, whereAbadan is located, said the death toll had risen to 28 people,and another 37 were injured in Monday’s collapse of the10-storey residential and commercial building. So far 13 peoplehave been arrested for building violations, they said.

Authorities investigating the disaster have detainedAbadan’s current and past mayors and several other municipalemployees, amid accusations that safety warnings were ignored.

Fars agency said that a protest in Abadan on Friday nightturned violent when crowds forced their way into the ruins ofthe building, where rescue operations were continuing. Policefired tear gas and warning shots, it said.

Footage on social media showed people running for cover.Screams of “Don’t shoot, don’t shoot” and the sound of gunfirecould be heard. Reuters could not independently authenticate thefootage.

Unverified video from Khuzestan’s port city of Mahshahrshowed protesters shouting: “They stole oil and gas, took ourblood”.

Marches in solidarity with the Abadan protests have alsobeen held in several nearby areas in Khuzestan as well as ShahinShahr in central Iran and the southern city of Shiraz, accordingto other unverified postings on social media.

First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber told state televisionon Friday he believed that “widespread corruption” between thebuilder, contractor and supervising bodies was responsible forthe disaster.

As during earlier protests over food price rises, residentshave reported disrupted internet services, an apparent attemptto stop the use of social media to organise rallies anddisseminate videos. Officials deny blocking internet access.