In Iran, at least 70 people have been killed and 32 injured when an Iranian passenger plane crashed near the northwestern city in Orumiyeh of West AzerbaijanProvince. Quoting head of Iran's State Emergency Centre, Gholam-Reza Masoumi, Iran's semi-official press TV reported that the Iran Air-operated plane with 105 passengers and crew on board, crashed near lake Orumiyeh last evening. It took off from Mehr Abad Airport in Tehran and was enroute to Orumiyeh International Airport when the incident happened. Iran's Red Crescent Society told Press TV that the death toll is expected to rise as many of the injured have been reported to be in critical conditions. They have been rushed to hospitals in the cities of Orumiyeh and Tabriz. Officials have said that 27 inches of snow and thick fog are hampering the rescue operations.