UPDATE - At least 15 dead, 31 injured in traffic accident in southeastern Türkiye

REVISES HEADLINE, ADDS CONDOLENCE MESSAGES FROM SEVERAL COUNTRIES

By Adsiz Gunebakan

GAZIANTEP, Türkiye (AA) - At least 15 people were killed and 31 others injured in a weekend traffic accident in Türkiye's southeastern Gaziantep province, its governor said in a statement.

A passenger bus collided with a fire brigade, an ambulance and a broadcast vehicle belonging to a Turkish news agency Saturday on the Tarsus-Adana-Gaziantep Highway, leading to the casualties.

The emergency service vehicles were responding to an earlier accident at the site when the bus plowed into the crowd.

The victims include three firefighters, three paramedics and two journalists belonging to Ihlas News Agency (IHA).

While the condition of six of those injured remains critical, 12 have been discharged.
Gaziantep Governor Davut Gul later visited the injured and conveyed his wishes for their quick recovery.

A number of Turkish officials including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Health Minister Fahrettin Koca expressed their condolences over the deaths and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

Many countries conveyed their condolences to Türkiye in the form of government statements and social media posts for those who died or were injured in accident.

The foreign ministries of Pakistan and Serbia also condoled with Türkiye in separate statements.

Uzbek President Sevket Mirziyoyev also issued a condolence message to President Erdogan for the victims.

Libya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered its condolences to the government and people of Türkiye for those who died. Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced in a written statement that they stand in solidarity with the Republic of Türkiye.

"Terrible to hear about the accidents in Gaziantep and Mardin Provinces. Our thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones, and we hope for a speedy recovery for all injured," Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde said on Twitter.

Linde was referring to an accident that occurred a few hours earlier on the same day when at least 19 people were killed and nearly 30 injured after a truck driver lost control of his vehicle and slammed into pedestrians in Derik district of Mardin province after his breaks gave out.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kenani also expressed his condolences to the Turkish people and government for the traffic accident in Gaziantep.

Armenian National Assembly Vice President Ruben Rubinyan also released a statement on Twitter.

"My deepest condolences to the families & friends of those who lost their lives in traffic accidents in #Gaziantep and #Mardin. Speedy recovery to the injured.”