The blast at a paint factory in the Shahid Salimi industrial zone in East Azerbaijan province was caused by a gas leak, official news agency Irna said.

It said 22 people were treated on the spot and the rest were taken to medical centres.

Vahid Shadinia, a spokesman for the province's emergency services, told Irna more than 20 of those injured had been taken to "specialised hospitals" in the provincial capital Tabriz.

Source: Iran International