Eight people were killed and 36 wounded when a bus overturned on Friday on Iran's Qom- highway, the semi-official Agency reported.

The bus, carrying 44 passengers, was travelling on the key artery from the southeastern province of towards at 7:40 AM when the fell asleep, local officials told ISNA.

The was among those killed.

is one of the deadliest countries in the world for road accidents, according to the

In December, a bus carrying students along a mountainous road in northwestern veered off the road and hit a concrete column, killing 10.

Efforts to modernise Iran's ageing and highly polluting vehicle fleet have been hampered by a lack of investment.

Auto giants and have been forced to suspend plans to open new factories in the country due to the return of US sanctions. </s> In Iran, t eight people were killed and 36 injured in a bus accident today. The accident occurred near Iran’s capital Tehran.

A bus, carrying 44 passengers, was travelling on the key artery from the southeastern province of Kerman towards Tehran when the driver fell asleep. The driver was among those killed.

According to the World Health Organisation, Iran is one of the deadliest countries in the world for road accidents. </s> At least 21 people died when a bus overturned following a collision with a tanker on a road in central Iran, AP reports.

Iranian state television said the accident happened late on Monday on the road linking the cities of Kashan and Natanz, about some 250 kilometers southeast of the capital, Tehran.

The intercity bus was taking passengers from Tehran to the city of Kerman, some 1,000 kilometers to the southeast, when the accident took place.

The TV said 20 people were injured in the crash and were taken to local hospitals.

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has offered condolences to the families of the victims and wished speedy recovery to those injured in the accident. </s> TEHRAN, Iran — At least 21 people died when a bus overturned following a collision with a tanker on a road in central Iran, Iranian media reported Tuesday.

Iranian state television said the accident happened late on Monday on the road linking the cities of Kashan and Natanz, about some 250 kilometres (156 miles) southeast of the capital, Tehran.

The intercity bus was taking passengers from Tehran to the city of Kerman, some 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) to the southeast, when the accident took place.

Many Iranians are travelling this week as the four-day major Shiite Muslim holiday of Ashura gets underway.

The TV said 20 people were injured in the crash and were taken to local hospitals. The survivors included two women and two boys under the age of six.

It broadcast footage showing the burning bus and tanker, flames rising into the nighttime sky as rescue teams rushed about at the site.

An unnamed survivor told the TV from his hospital bed that the crash happened close to midnight.

“The flames started at the front of the bus as diesel from the tanker poured in,” he said, adding that he managed to escape through a bus window.

With some 17,000 motorists killed annually, Iran has one of the world’s worst traffic safety records, attributed mainly to widespread disregard for traffic laws, unsafe vehicles and inadequate emergency services. </s> TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - At least 21 people died when a bus overturned following a collision with a tanker on a road in central Iran, Iranian media reported Tuesday.

Iranian state television said the accident happened late on Monday on the road linking the cities of Kashan and Natanz, about some 250 kilometers (156 miles) southeast of the capital, Tehran.

The intercity bus was taking passengers from Tehran to the city of Kerman, some 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) to the southeast, when the accident took place.

Many Iranians are traveling this week as the four-day major Shiite Muslim holiday of Ashura gets underway.

The TV said 20 people were injured in the crash and were taken to local hospitals. The survivors included two women and two boys under the age of six.

It broadcast footage showing the burning bus and tanker, flames rising into the nighttime sky as rescue teams rushed about at the site.

An unnamed survivor told the TV from his hospital bed that the crash happened close to midnight.

"The flames started at the front of the bus as diesel from the tanker poured in," he said, adding that he managed to escape through a bus window.

With some 17,000 motorists killed annually, Iran has one of the world's worst traffic safety records, attributed mainly to widespread disregard for traffic laws, unsafe vehicles and inadequate emergency services. </s> TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — At least 21 people died when a bus overturned following a collision with a tanker on a road in central Iran, Iranian media reported Tuesday.

Iranian state television said the accident happened late on Monday on the road linking the cities of Kashan and Natanz, about some 250 kilometers (156 miles) southeast of the capital, Tehran.

The intercity bus was taking passengers from Tehran to the city of Kerman, some 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) to the southeast, when the accident took place.

Many Iranians are traveling this week as the four-day major Shiite Muslim holiday of Ashura gets underway.

The TV said 20 people were injured in the crash and were taken to local hospitals. The survivors included two women and two boys under the age of six.

It broadcast footage showing the burning bus and tanker, flames rising into the nighttime sky as rescue teams rushed about at the site.

An unnamed survivor told the TV from his hospital bed that the crash happened close to midnight.

“The flames started at the front of the bus as diesel from the tanker poured in,” he said, adding that he managed to escape through a bus window.

With some 17,000 motorists killed annually, Iran has one of the world’s worst traffic safety records, attributed mainly to widespread disregard for traffic laws, unsafe vehicles and inadequate emergency services.
A bus overturns on the Qom–Tehran Highway in Iran, killing eight people (including the driver) and injuring more than thirty others. Officials claim the driver fell asleep.