At least 17 people were killed and dozens injured Wednesday when a train derailed near the central Iranian city of Tabas after hitting an excavator, state media reported.
“Seventeen people are dead and 37 injured people have been transferred to hospital,” emergency services spokesman Mojtaba Khaledi told state television.
“The number of the dead may rise as most of the injured are in critical condition,” he said, adding that “24 ambulances and three helicopters have been dispatched to the scene.”
Tabas is located in South Khorasan province roughly 900 kilometres (560 miles) by road from Tehran.
The deputy head of Iran’s state-owned railways, Mir Hassan Moussavi, told the state broadcaster that the train was carrying 348 passengers. It “derailed after hitting an excavator” that was near the track, he said.
