At least seven people including migrants from Afghanistan and Pakistan were killed in a road accident in Turkey, the officials said Friday.
The incident reportedly took place late on Thursday night in the vicinity of Igdir district of Turkey after a bus carrying migrants struck a lighting pole.
Officials in Idgir district have confirmed that a bus carrying around 50 migrants struck the lighting pole on Igdir-Kars highway, leaving at least 17 dead and 36 wounded.
The governor of Igdir Enver Unlu has confirmed to Anadolu news agency that the bus was carrying migrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran.
He said the migrants were attempting to illegally travel to Turkey when the incident took place and an investigation is underway in this regard.
In the meantime, the local health officials have said the health condition of a number of the wounded individuals is critical and that the death toll could rise.
The officials have said the bus had a capacity of carrying at least 14 passengers but around 50 passengers were forced to travel in the bus.
According to the officials, an investigation is underway in this regard by the local prosecutors and efforts are also underway to ascertain the identity of the driver of the bus.
