At least 21 people were killed and 19 others injuredwhen a passenger bus carrying visitors from Basra erupted in flames afterstriking another vehicle near al-Bathaa district in Dhi Qar province on Sunday.
Health Ministry spokesperson Saif al-Badr stated in avoice message that several bodies were severely burned and transferred toforensic authorities for identification, while the injured, including twoIranian nationals, were taken to nearby healthcare facilities.
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi instructed relevantauthorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident andensure assistance reaches those affected and the families of the victims.
Road safety remains a persistent concern in Iraq,where deteriorating infrastructure, speeding, vehicle defects, and weakenforcement of traffic regulations contribute to high casualty rates. In Diyalaprovince alone, health authorities recorded about 90 deaths and more than 2,000injuries during the first four months of 2026.
Nationwide, Iraq registered 11,763 road incidents and2,719 fatalities in 2024, with driver error accounting for 78% of cases.