BASRA: At least six students were killed and 14 wounded on Tuesday when a truck ploughed into them on their way out of school in Iraq’s southern province of Basra, authorities said.
Interior ministry spokesperson Miqdad Miri confirmed the incident, stating that the driver of the truck had been apprehended by Basra police following the collision in the Al-Hartha region.
According to Miri, preliminary investigations suggested that the driver lost control of the truck due to brake failure, leading to the fatal accident.
Road accidents remain a significant concern in Iraq, with more than 4,900 lives lost to such incidents in 2022 alone, averaging to approximately 13 deaths per day, according to data from the health ministry.
Iraq’s infrastructure, including roads and bridges, has suffered from neglect, conflict, and widespread corruption. Officials often attribute accidents to various factors such as drivers exceeding speed limits, using mobile phones while driving, and the consumption of drugs and alcohol.
