17 killed in Iran during train derailment

June 8 (UPI) -- An Iranian passenger train derailment in South Khorasan Wednesday morning left 17 passengers dead and more than 30 others injured.

Officials said the train was carrying 348 passengers and was near the Mazino Station when it derailed. Authorities said the accident happened when the train passed an excavator over the tracks. The train was heading to Yazd City.

Of those injured, five were listed in critical condition. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said more than 50 emergency personnel responded to the scene along with 10 ambulances and three relief helicopters.

The accident happened in a remote area where communication was poor. Mehdi Valipour, head of Iran's Red Crescent Society said six train cars were damaged in the accident, three of which had overturned.

Some 45 people died in a 2016 train accident involving a collision of two passenger trains in the Semnan province, where 103 were injured.