Nine people were killed and 26 others injured after a passenger bus traveling from northwestern Turkey to the Mediterranean city of Antalya overturned and fell into a ravine on Sunday, local authorities said.
The bus, operated by the Buzlu company and registered with license plate 26 ABG 022, struck roadside barriers at the Kömürler Junction in Antalya’s Döşemealtı district around 10:20 a.m. before plunging into the ravine, according to Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin.
“The bus lost control while negotiating a curve,” Şahin told reporters at the scene. “Eight people died immediately, and 26 were injured, some seriously. The driver was among the fatalities, bringing the total death toll to nine.”
Emergency services, including health teams, the fire department, the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), the gendarmerie, and police, rushed to the scene for rescue and evacuation operations, Şahin said. Injured passengers were taken to nearby hospitals, primarily Antalya City Hospital and Antalya Training and Research Hospital.
Of the injured, seven remain in critical condition. Four are being treated at Antalya City Hospital and three at the Training and Research Hospital. Two patients underwent amputations and were being transferred to a university hospital for possible limb reattachment, Şahin said.
Preliminary assessments suggest wet road conditions and fog in the area contributed to the accident. “The bus appeared to be traveling at a speed inappropriate for the road conditions. The exact cause will be determined following a technical investigation,” Şahin said.
The accident comes amid days of heavy rain in the region, which is a popular destination for domestic and international tourists.
On the same day, authorities reported a separate crash in Burdur province, about 65 km north of Antalya, where a head-on collision between two cars killed seven people and injured five others. Emergency teams transported the injured to local hospitals, while authorities launched an investigation into the incident.
Traffic safety remains a concern in Turkey, where 6,351 people died in road accidents in 2024, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on social media on Sunday. He called for stricter traffic regulations and emphasized the need to improve the country’s traffic culture.
The Transportation Ministry has yet to comment on the incident. Local authorities continue to investigate the Antalya bus crash and have urged drivers to exercise caution in adverse weather conditions.