TEHRAN, Iran — On Saturday, a bus traveling between cities in western Iran careened off a road and fell into a ravine, resulting in the tragic loss of nine lives, according to reports from state media.

Six of the deceased were pronounced dead at the scene of the incident, which occurred in the Pa-alam area along the route that connects the towns of Andimeshk and Pol-e-Dokhtar. The remaining three victims succumbed to their injuries in local hospitals, while an additional 14 passengers sustained injuries in the crash.

This accident took place in a remote and hilly region situated roughly 450 kilometers (280 miles) to the southwest of Tehran, the country’s capital.

Reports from the official IRNA news agency indicate that those on board were predominantly soldiers who were making their way from the southern part of Iran to the west. The bus involved in the incident had a total of 27 passengers.

Preliminary investigations by law enforcement imply that the driver may have been exceeding speed limits, which led to the loss of control of the bus.

Traffic safety in Iran has long been a serious concern, with the nation recording one of the highest rates of traffic-related fatalities worldwide, averaging around 17,000 deaths per year. This alarming figure is largely attributed to general neglect of traffic regulations, the use of unsafe vehicles, and insufficient emergency response capabilities, particularly in the sprawling rural regions of the country.