Traffic accident near Basra kills 13
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least 13 people were killed after a truck collided with a minivan carrying the teaching staff of a school in Basra province’s Safwan town, south of Iraq, on Tuesday.
At least 10 teachers and three of their children were killed in the accident. The staff from Safwan’s al-Ibrahimi school were reportedly on a work trip when the accident occurred.
Basra Governor Assad al-Eidani extended his condolences to the families of the victims, and announced a three-day mourning period across the province in their memory.
Iraqi Education Minister Namis al-Jubouri also extended his condolences, stating that “words are not enough” to describe the tragic accident. The minister directed the Basra education directorate to get in touch with the families of the victims and provide them with “all forms of support and assistance.”
Car accidents are a common occurrence in Iraq, especially during times of holidays, religious ceremonies, and special events.
Over 11,500 traffic accidents took place in the country in 2022, killing more than 3,000 and wounding over 12,600 others, according to data from Iraq’s planning ministry. The number of accidents in 2022 increased by more than eight percent compared to the previous year.
According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report from 2018, road traffic injuries were the leading cause of death of people aged five to 29 globally, with an estimated rate of traffic fatalities per 100,000 population in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of 20.7% in 2016.
At least 10 teachers and three of their children were killed in the accident. The staff from Safwan’s al-Ibrahimi school were reportedly on a work trip when the accident occurred.
Basra Governor Assad al-Eidani extended his condolences to the families of the victims, and announced a three-day mourning period across the province in their memory.
Iraqi Education Minister Namis al-Jubouri also extended his condolences, stating that “words are not enough” to describe the tragic accident. The minister directed the Basra education directorate to get in touch with the families of the victims and provide them with “all forms of support and assistance.”
Car accidents are a common occurrence in Iraq, especially during times of holidays, religious ceremonies, and special events.
Over 11,500 traffic accidents took place in the country in 2022, killing more than 3,000 and wounding over 12,600 others, according to data from Iraq’s planning ministry. The number of accidents in 2022 increased by more than eight percent compared to the previous year.
According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report from 2018, road traffic injuries were the leading cause of death of people aged five to 29 globally, with an estimated rate of traffic fatalities per 100,000 population in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of 20.7% in 2016.