One of the nastiest train accidents in recent history occurred in Iran early Wednesday morning.
At least 17 people are dead, with 50 more injured.
Authorities stated that these totals could easily go up, as many of the wounded were in critical condition.
Horrible Accident
Reports stated that four of the train’s seven cars derailed in the early morning hours.
The derailment occurred during nightfall, only adding to the confusion with the train having derailed in the middle of the desert city Tabas.
This is located more than 300 miles outside of Tehran.
Even though rescue teams arrived, communications in the area are poor, which also likely hampered the response.
One witness stated, “Passengers were bouncing in the car like balls in the air.”
Exactly what caused the derailment is still being investigated.
However, one passenger noted that it felt like the train suddenly braked just prior to the derailment.
You can read more about this accident in the New York Post.