Ankara: Seventeen migrants were killed and 36 injured on Thursday when their minibus crashed into a night lamp pole at Igdir province in Eastern Turkey.
“The minibus caught fire after crashing with the pole,” the Anadolu Agency quoted provincial governor of Igdir Enver Unlu.
The migrants included the citizens of Afghan, Pakistan and Iran, who reportedly entered Turkey via the Iranian border.
“50 people were in the vehicle, of which the passenger capacity is only 14” informed deputy provincial Health Director, Taner Basaran.
Though, it was later reported that the bus was carrying more than 50 passengers.
Unlu expressed sorrow upon the death of the migrants while informing that the driver was among those who were killed.
Gendarmerie forces, a fire brigade squad, disaster and emergency management teams and medical teams were rushed to the scene soon after the incident.
The injured, including some in serious condition, were taken to Igdir State Hospital. (ANI)