Initial reports indicate that a severe multi-vehicle collision in Gaziantep left 16 people dead and 22 others injured, according to TRT News citing the regional governor. The incident prompted an outpouring of updates from local authorities and emergency responders as they coordinated the response on the scene.
Officials described the crash as occurring on the Gaziantep-Nizip highway during late morning hours. The timing was noted to be around 11:30, aligning with local schedules reported by authorities. Involved in the crash were several large vehicles, including a passenger bus, an ambulance, a fire truck, and a car, with journalists among the vehicles impacted by the collision.
Governor Davut Gul provided details about the sequence of events, explaining that the car crash happened roughly at 10:45. Early reports indicated the bus overturned about 200 meters before the main impact zone and was propelled into other vehicles, intensifying the severity of the incident and complicating rescue efforts.
Among the confirmed fatalities were three firefighters, two health workers, and two journalists, underscoring the dangerous conditions faced by first responders and the media covering the event. The fatalities reflect the high risk present in densely traveled corridors where large commercial buses share the road with emergency and support vehicles.
Rescue teams acted quickly to secure the site and transport the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment. Medical staff and emergency crews worked through the morning to triage patients and stabilize those with life-threatening injuries, while investigators began documenting road conditions, vehicle positions, and potential contributing factors to the crash.
Police have taken charge of the investigation to determine the exact causes and sequence of events. Officers are reviewing traffic footage, interviewing witnesses, and examining vehicle maintenance records as part of a thorough inquiry that aims to clarify responsibility and prevent future incidents on this corridor.
In a separate report earlier this week, another collision somewhere in the Antalya province resulted in 25 people injured when a regular bus collided with a tourist coach, highlighting ongoing road safety concerns in the region. Authorities stressed the importance of driver vigilance, adherence to speed limits, and robust road safety measures to reduce the risk of high-casualty accidents across Turkey.