At least eight people have died and 26 others have been injured after a passenger coach overturned and plunged around 50 feet into a ravine near Antalya, in southern Turkey, authorities have confirmed.
The crash happened as the bus approached a multi-level intersection in foggy and wet conditions. Several passengers were reportedly thrown from the vehicle as it skidded off the road and crashed into a ditch.
Local officials said many of the injured were in critical condition and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Provincial governor Hulusi Şahin said poor weather and possible speeding may have contributed to the accident.
“The ground was wet and there was also fog in the area. It’s not a place to speed, but it seems the bus was speeding,” he said.
The coach struck roadside barriers before plunging into the ravine. Emergency services and rescue teams were deployed to the scene, where recovery and investigation work continued.
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç confirmed that a judicial inquiry had been launched. He said a deputy chief prosecutor and two public prosecutors had been assigned to examine the circumstances of the crash.
Authorities have not yet provided a definitive cause, but early reports suggest the driver may have lost control due to slippery road conditions and reduced visibility.
The bus was operated by Buzlu and had been travelling overnight from Tekirdağ in north-western Turkey to Antalya, a major holiday destination popular with international tourists.
The coastal region around Antalya attracts millions of visitors each year and is one of Turkey’s busiest transport corridors, particularly during peak travel seasons.