At least 43 people killed in Iran train collision

Tehran: At least 43 people were killed in a collision between two trains in Iran`s Semnan province on Friday, said Iran`s Red Crescent Society.

Xinhua news agency quoted spokesman of Relief and Rescue Organisation of Red Crescent Society, Mostafa Mortazavi, as saying that another 100 people were injured and hospitalised.

Earlier reports said that the accident occurred in Haft-Khan train station located between Semnan and Damghan at 7.45 a.m. local time (0415 GMT).

Two wagons were set in fire as the trains collided and most of the injuries were due to the burning, semi-official Fars News Agency reported.

Two helicopters, firefighters and Red Crescent teams have been dispatched to the scene to help the victims, Iraj Reisian, the head of Crisis Management of Semnan province, was quoted as saying by semi-official Mehr News Agency.

It is possible that freezing of electronic system of Svznbany, which controls the movements of the trains, was the cause of the accident as the temperature had reached minus 12 degrees Celsius in the region, Mehr said.