Nineteen Killed in Central Syria Bus Collision
DAMASCUS-At least 19 people were killed and 27 others injured on Saturday after two passenger buses collided on a highway in central Syria, according to Syrian state media and the country’s interior ministry.
State television reported that the crash occurred on the Damascus-Deir Ezzor road between the towns of Sukhna and Palmyra in the country’s central-eastern region. It described the casualty figures as preliminary, indicating that the toll could change.
The Syrian interior ministry said the collision involved a bus carrying a number of internal security forces personnel and a civilian passenger bus. Authorities did not immediately provide further details on the circumstances that led to the crash.
Emergency responders were dispatched to the scene following the collision, while officials continued to assess the extent of the casualties. The identities of those killed and injured were not immediately released.
The Damascus-Deir Ezzor highway is a major transport route linking the Syrian capital with the country’s eastern provinces. It passes through long stretches of sparsely populated desert, including the area between Sukhna and the historic city of Palmyra, where the collision occurred.
Road accidents remain a recurring challenge in Syria, where years of conflict have damaged transport infrastructure and placed significant strain on public services. Authorities have not announced whether an investigation has been launched into the cause of Saturday’s crash.
The interior ministry and state media provided no immediate information on the condition of those injured or whether traffic along the route had resumed following the accident.
