Revolutionary Arson, Cinema Rex Tragedy In 1978

Hundreds of people had packed the theater in an impoverished working-class district of Abadan to watch The Deer (Gavaznha, directed by Masud Kimiai and starring Behrouz Vossoughi) when four men barred the doors of the cinema, doused the place with gasoline, and set fire to all four sides of the building to prevent rescue attempts. Of a total of 700 people, an estimated 100 managed to escape unhurt via the roof. Another 223 were injured. The remaining 377 were tragically trampled to death, asphyxiated or burned alive.