A bus carrying Shiite pilgrims from Pakistan to Iraq crashed in the central part of Iran. At least 28 people died, authorities said, cited by the Associated Press and BTA.
The disaster happened last night in the central Iranian province of Yazd, said Mohammad Ali Malekzadeh, a local emergency services official. At the time of the accident, 51 people were traveling in the vehicle. There are 23 injured, of which 14 are in a serious condition.
Pilgrims traveled to the holy Shiite city of Karbala in Iraq to mark Arbain, the 40th day since the death of a 7th-century Shiite saint. The annual event in Karbala attracts huge numbers of pilgrims and is considered one of the largest mass events in the world.
The authorities have so far not indicated a specific cause of the crash. However, Iran is among the worst road safety countries in the world, with around 17,000 deaths per year. The reasons for the high number of victims are the widespread non-compliance with traffic rules, the poor condition of the car fleet and inadequate access to emergency services in the more remote areas of the Islamic Republic.
In another bus crash early this morning in southeastern Iran, six people were killed and 18 injured, authorities said.