18 killed in two separate road accidents in Iran

• An estimated 17,000 people are killed in road crashes each year

Iran’s state TV says 18 people were killed and 14 injured in two separate road accidents in the country.

The report says both accidents happened on Tuesday.

The TV says 11 died after a minibus plunged into a ravine in a valley in the central province of Isfahan. It says eight were injured and were taken to hospital. They were reported to be in serious condition.

The second accident, which killed seven, involved a crash between a bus and a car in the southeastern Sistan and Baluchistan province. A huge fire engulfed the two vehicles after the collision.

With about 17,000 dying every year in accidents, Iran has one of the world's worst traffic safety records, blamed on disregard of traffic laws, unsafe vehicles and inadequate emergency services.

Associated Press