At least 11 people were killed and 24 others injured after a passenger bus overturned in Iran’s central Markazi province, according to reports carried by state television on Saturday.
The accident occurred on the Saveh-Hamedan Freeway. Provincial traffic police said the crash was caused after the driver reportedly fell asleep while driving. Authorities did not disclose the destination of the bus.
Emergency responders reached the scene following the incident and the injured were taken for medical treatment. Further details regarding the condition of those hurt were not immediately available.
The latest accident has once again drawn attention to road safety challenges in Iran. The country is considered among those with some of the poorest traffic safety records in the world. More than 17,000 people lose their lives in road accidents across Iran each year.
Road safety experts have attributed the high death toll to a combination of factors, including unsafe vehicles, widespread disregard for traffic regulations and inadequate emergency response services.
Earlier this month, another major road tragedy occurred near the western city of Sanandaj when an oil tanker exploded after colliding with other vehicles. That incident claimed the lives of 11 people and left seven others injured.
The latest crash adds to growing concerns over transportation safety and highlights the continuing need for stronger road safety measures in the country.