A horrific collision between two passenger buses on the Damascus-Deir Ezzor road has resulted in the deaths of at least 35 people, with another 30 individuals sustaining injuries, according to state media reports. The crash, which occurred on Saturday, involved a bus carrying internal security forces personnel and a civilian bus. The exact number of casualties from each bus remains unspecified.
Emergency and disaster management minister Raed Al Saleh described the incident as "one of the deadliest road accidents in Syria in recent years in terms of the number of victims." He emphasized the need for collective national effort to prevent such tragedies, highlighting the urgent requirement to address the challenges facing the country's neglected road infrastructure.
State media broadcasted footage of the crash, showing a bus engulfed in flames and debris scattered along the highway. Military helicopters were deployed to airlift casualties from the scene. The director of road transport in Damascus, Moaz Najjar, stated that authorities have prioritized road maintenance in the eastern region, acknowledging that most roads have not undergone repairs for the past 15 years.
This recent accident underscores the deteriorating state of Syria's infrastructure, which has suffered from years of civil war and neglect. Earlier this month, another bus accident in southern Syria's Daraa province resulted in five deaths and dozens of injuries, predominantly among Lebanese pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia.
Last year, a similar incident occurred when a bus collided with an oil tanker in northeastern Syria, resulting in at least 12 fatalities. In 2020, a fuel tanker crash involving two buses on a road between Damascus and Homs province claimed the lives of at least 32 people. Saturday's accident is considered one of the worst in recent years.
