21 Dead in Train Accident Near Tabas

At least 21 people died and more than 87 were injured in the early hours of Wednesday after a passenger train plowed into a stationary excavator in eastern Iran.
Five out of the train’s ten carriages rolled off the tracks after it slammed into the excavator at 5:22 in the morning near the city of Tabas, ISNA reported. 
“Last night at 7:30 pm, the Mashhad-Tabas train started off with 382 passengers on board,” deputy of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, Mirhassan Mousavi, stated, adding that the excavator had been left near tracks. 
Officials are still investigating the cause of the derailment. As of Wednesday afternoon, it was unclear why the excavator was left near the rails. 
Majority of injured passengers have been hospitalized at Tabas’ only hospital, Mostafa Khomeini. Rescue operations had been completed by noon and those unharmed were transferred to their destination of Yazd by bus. 
President Ebrahim Raisi sent his thoughts and prayers to the families of the passengers who died in the crash and ordered the provincial governments of Yazd and South Khorasan to send rescue teams and equipment to the scene of the accident. 
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi and Roads Minister Rostam Qasemi visited the crash site on Wednesday and made the necessary arrangements to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers.   
“After more careful examinations, possible culprits of this accident will be introduced by officials from the Roads Ministry,” Vahidi told reporters. 
A special team from the Supreme Audit Court was dispatched to make enquires about the incident on Wednesday noon. The train is insured by Razi Insurance Company. 
Azerbaijan and Pakistan were among the countries which sent their condolences to Iran and the families of the victims.