A devastating road accident in southern Iran has left at least 21 people dead and 34 others injured after a passenger bus overturned near the city of Shiraz in Fars Province, according to Iranian state media.
The incident occurred on Saturday when an overcrowded bus heading towards Shiraz lost control and veered off the road into a ditch. Emergency officials responded immediately, sending ambulances and fire engines to the scene. Rescue operations began swiftly, and the injured passengers were taken to nearby hospitals. The efforts are still underway, and the death toll could rise further.
Masoud Abed, head of Fars province&rsquo;s emergency organisation, confirmed the casualty figures and said that a detailed investigation is in progress. Although the exact cause of the crash has not been determined yet, officials believe the accident might have been caused by either driver negligence or a mechanical failure.
He stated that final casualty numbers and details will be made public only after the rescue operation concludes and investigations are completed. Iran has one of the highest road fatality rates globally, with nearly 17,000 deaths reported annually. Experts attribute this alarming figure to poor enforcement of traffic laws, use of outdated vehicles, and inadequate emergency medical response systems.
This latest accident has once again raised concerns about Iran&rsquo;s road safety conditions. Despite awareness campaigns and government efforts, the country continues to suffer from a high number of road-related deaths each year.
This incident also follows a separate disaster in April, when a massive explosion at Shahid Rajai Port in Bandar Abbas killed four people and injured over 500. That explosion, which occurred in containers near the shoreline, halted port operations and led to panic in the area. Local authorities had to evacuate hundreds of injured individuals, and the incident reignited fears about safety and cyber threats, as the port had previously been targeted in cyberattacks allegedly linked to foreign powers.
The bus crash near Shiraz and the earlier explosion in Bandar Abbas have contributed to growing public concern over the overall state of safety infrastructure and emergency preparedness in Iran.

21 Dead as Bus Overturns Near Shiraz in Iran

Fatal bus crash in southern Iran leaves 21 dead, 34 injured; probe into cause underway

21 Dead as Bus Overturns Near Shiraz in Iran

Fatal bus crash in southern Iran leaves 21 dead, 34 injured; probe into cause underway

July 19, 2025 | 20:07 IST