Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Sep 6: At least 10 people were killed and six others injured after a fuel tanker exploded following a road accident on the Hamedan-Sanandaj highway in western Iran, Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported.
The explosion occurred on Saturday after the tanker was involved in a crash on the highway in Kurdistan province.
According to Reuters, Sanandaj Governor Arshad Hosseini said the accident was caused by a technical failure in the tanker's braking system. The tanker was carrying fuel when it crashed, triggering a powerful explosion and fire.
At least six other people were injured in the incident, the governor said, adding that the casualty figures were based on initial reports and could change as authorities continued their assessment.
Local officials said the resulting fire was brought under control shortly after the explosion. Authorities did not immediately release details about the identities of those killed or provide further information about the circumstances of the crash.
The incident adds to Iran's long-running road safety concerns, particularly involving fuel tankers, buses and other heavy vehicles. Poor road conditions, an ageing vehicle fleet and heavy freight traffic have contributed to repeated deadly accidents across the country.
Sanandaj and the surrounding roads have witnessed several serious tanker and bus accidents in the past.
In July 2018, at least 13 people were killed when a fuel tanker collided with a passenger bus that had stopped to pick up passengers near Sanandaj. The tanker caught fire after the collision, causing a major blaze.
Iran has one of the world's highest rates of road fatalities. UNICEF has previously said the country's rate of traffic crashes is around 20 times the global average, citing factors including poor road conditions and weak traffic enforcement.
A May 2017 report by the Tehran-based Financial Tribune said more than 20,000 people were killed and around 800,000 injured in road accidents in Iran every year.
The latest tanker explosion has once again highlighted concerns over vehicle maintenance, road safety standards and enforcement of traffic regulations in the country, particularly on routes carrying heavy freight and hazardous materials.