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Iraq bus crash in Thi Qar: Officials work to identify victims after 21 deaths
Iraqi officials in Thi Qar province are working to identify victims after a passenger bus crash and fire killed 21 people and injured 20 on a route from Najaf to Basra. Fourteen bodies were burned beyond recognition, and two Iranian nationals are believed to be among the dead. Authorities cited poor road conditions.
Iraqi authorities were working on 16 June to identify victims of a bus crash. The crash killed 21 people in southern Iraq over the weekend. The bus hit an accident on 15 June and then caught fire. A local official said many bodies were badly burned.
Ahmad Saleem, spokesperson for the Thi Qar provincial council, said 14 bodies could not be recognised. Saleem also said two Iranian nationals were believed to be among the dead. Saleem said those bodies were not yet confirmed. Officials also counted 20 injured people after the crash.
Iraq bus crash victims identification in Thi Qar province
The passenger bus was travelling from Najaf to Basra when it crashed. Najaf is a holy city for Shiite Muslims and draws many pilgrims. Saleem said the crash happened at about 3 pm on 15 June. The location was in Thi Qar province, between Thi Qar and Diwaniyah.
Among the injured were two Iranians, according to Saleem. Saleem said they were evacuated to Iran on 16 June morning. The evacuation happened through the Iranian Consulate in Basra. Officials did not provide more details about the injured people’s conditions.
Iraq bus crash causes linked to roads and ambulance shortage
Saleem blamed the crash on poor road conditions in the area. Saleem said local authorities had already raised the road as a safety issue. Saleem also said the emergency response faced problems. Saleem said Thi Qar province had too few ambulances for such incidents.
Road accidents were frequent across Iraq, officials and reports have said. Years of conflict, corruption and low investment left infrastructure in poor shape. Highways were often not repaired and many vehicles were old. Traffic rules were also not always enforced, adding to the risk.
A similar crash was reported in 2023 involving a bus of pilgrims. That vehicle was heading to Karbala and crashed north of Baghdad. The 2023 crash killed 18 people. Iraqi officials were still focused on identifying the latest victims and confirming nationalities.
With inputs from PTI
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