ISTANBUL, Aug 21(ABC): At least 32 people were killed in southeast Turkey on Saturday when vehicles crashed into first respondents who were attending earlier accidents, authorities said.
Sixteen people including emergency workers and journalists died when a bus crashed into an earlier accident site, regional governor Davut Gul from southeastern province of Gaziantep said. Another 20 people were wounded and received treatment.
“At around 10:45 this morning, a passenger bus crashed here,” Gul said, speaking from the scene of the accident on the road east of Gaziantep.
“While the fire brigade, medical teams and other colleagues were responding to the accident, another bus crashed 200 metres behind. The second bus slid to this site and hit the first responders and the wounded people on the ground.”
Separately, a truck hit a site some 250 km (155 miles) east in Derik district of Mardin where first respondents were attending to another accident, according to footage.
Sixteen people died and 29 others were injured as a result of the incident in Mardin, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said, adding that eight of the wounded were in critical condition.
Pakistan condoles with Turkey over loss of life
Pakistan offered condolences to Turkey over the loss of lives in the tragedy.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief and sorrow over the accident, resulting in the loss of a number of precious lives and injuries to many more.
“On behalf of the government & the people of Pakistan, I extend our heartfelt condolences to Turkish President Racep Tayyip Erdogan and the bereaved families over their loss,” the prime minister wrote.