Iran: At least 36 people dead as two trains collide in Semnan province
Officials said they expect the toll to rise and that the cause of the accident is being investigated.
At least 36 people died and more than 90 others were injured after two trains collided in Iran’s Semnan province on Friday, AP reported. Officials said the toll was expected to rise as fire fighters were trying to douse the flames that had engulfed the two passenger rakes. The injured are undergoing treatment at a local hospital, BBC reported.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident. The collision took place at Haft-Khan station in Shahroud city. Iranian state television aired footage showing two of the four derailed carriages ablaze.
The news agency reported that official statistics claim an annual average of 17,000 deaths caused by traffic accidents, owing to poor infrastructure, which is a result of years of nuclear programme-related sanctions on the country.