At least nine individuals have tragically lost their lives in a bus accident in a popular vacation destination. The intercity bus veered off the road and fell into a ravine in Antalya province, situated in southern Turkey, on Sunday.
Footage broadcasted by state channel TRT displayed the bus overturned on an embankment along a highway slip road in Dosemealti, a district northwest of Antalya city center.
Governor Hulusi Sahin of the province disclosed that 21 individuals sustained injuries, with some in critical condition. Among the injured, seven have suffered severe and life-altering wounds.
According to the DHA news agency, several passengers were ejected from the bus, which had traveled overnight from Tekirdag in Turkey’s northwest.
Antalya, a renowned tourist spot on the Mediterranean coast, has experienced heavy rainfall recently. Governor Sahin remarked, “The ground was wet, and there was fog in the area. Despite the unsuitable conditions for speeding, it appears the bus was traveling at high speed.”
Reportedly, the driver lost control of the vehicle in dense fog and slippery road conditions near a multi-level junction. The bus crashed through roadside barriers and descended the ravine, prompting a significant rescue operation.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc confirmed the initiation of a judicial inquiry into the incident. A deputy chief prosecutor and two public prosecutors have been assigned to investigate the case thoroughly.
The tragic accident has resulted in the confirmed death of nine individuals.
