At least 45 people lost their lives and dozens of others were injured after two passenger trains collided at a station in Iran’s North-Central province of Semnan; FNA reported.

"The head of the railway’s command and control center for Northeastern Iran, the head of the track control center, and the individual in charge of the particular shift at the center when the collision occurred have been arrested," Semnan’s Prosecutor-General Heydar Asiabi said on Saturday.

According to local officials, the collision happened at the Haf-Khan station near the city of Shahroud around 7:40 a.m. local time on Friday.

Head of Iran's Medical Emergency Department Pir Hossein Koulivand said 36 people have so far been confirmed dead and 80 others injured.

Ambulances and seven rescue teams have been dispatched to the site, the official said. “Snowfalls and icy roads have hampered access to the site of the incident; therefore, a rescue helicopter has been sent there,” he added.

A huge fire also broke out following the accident, further slowing down relief operations underway at the location.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the collision.

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