Six killed, 12 injured in major car accident in Kirkuk

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least six people were killed and 12 others injured on Sunday after a cement truck collided with multiple vehicles at the entrance to Kirkuk on the main road linking the city to Sulaimani, local police said.

“A traffic accident occurred on the Kirkuk-Sulaimani road, and a truck crashed into more than 20 other vehicles,” Amer Nouri Shwani, spokesperson for Kirkuk police, told Rudaw.

According to preliminary information, six people lost their lives and 12 others were wounded in the pileup.

The truck was carrying dry cement and caught fire after crashing into a number of vehicles, Shwani said.

Civil defense teams were dispatched to the scene shortly after the accident and worked to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading further.

Shwani said the victims included three women, one man, and children, though authorities have not yet released the full identities of those killed.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said in a statement that he has instructed the health ministry and relevant authorities to provide assistance to the injured.

Road accidents remain a persistent problem across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, often linked to speeding, poor road conditions, and weak enforcement of traffic regulations.

Updated at 11:31 pm