At least one person has lost their life and another 26 have been injured with varying degrees of severity in a traffic accident involving a bus and a crane, which occurred near the access to a highway in the province of Manisa, in western Turkey, according to sources from local and national authorities.
In a statement released by the office of the governor of Manisa, it is specified that the bus was traveling south towards the city of Izmir when, around 11:00 a.m. (local time), the accident occurred. The initial indications suggest that the crane may have veered into the opposite lane, causing the collision between the two vehicles.
Medical teams and emergency personnel have been dispatched to the accident site to assist those affected. The injured, among them two in critical condition, have been evacuated to various nearby hospitals to receive the necessary medical attention.
The Minister of the Interior, Mustafa Çiftçi, has reported on what happened through a brief message shared on social media and has assured that he is "closely" monitoring the evolution of the situation in coordination with the competent institutions.
"I wish that God has mercy on our deceased citizens, patience and condolences to their grieving families; and a speedy recovery to the injured. May God protect our country and our noble nation from all kinds of accidents and disasters," he added.