At least 10 people were killed and six others injured after a fuel tanker exploded in western Iran. The incident occurred on the Hamadan–Sanandaj highway on Saturday (September 5).

The information was reported by Reuters, citing Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB.

The governor of Sanandaj said the fire that broke out following the explosion was brought under control quickly. The identities of those killed have not yet been released.

Officials said the initial casualty figure was reported as 10, but the number could change as rescue and investigation efforts continue.

Serious accidents involving fuel tankers and buses are not uncommon in Iran. Poor road infrastructure, aging vehicles and the movement of heavily loaded vehicles are among the factors contributing to frequent accidents in the country.

In 2018, at least 13 people were killed near Sanandaj when a fuel tanker crashed into a passenger bus that had stopped to pick up passengers.

According to data from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Iran’s road accident rate is nearly 20 times higher than the global average. Poor road conditions and inadequate traffic management have been identified as some of the major contributing factors.

A report published by Tehran-based newspaper Financial Tribune in May 2017 said more than 20,000 people were killed and around 800,000 injured in road accidents in Iran every year.

Source: Al Jazeera