At least 40 people were killed when a bus plowed off a bridge in southwestern Pakistan and caught fire.
Hamza Anjum, Lasbela district official in Balochistan province, southwestern Pakistan, said the accident happened early this morning when the bus carrying 48 people crashed into a pillar on the bridge, plunged below and caught fire. The vehicle was traveling from the Balochistan provincial capital Quetta to the port city of Karachi.
Local officials said at least 40 people were killed, while rescuers found three survivors. “There is a possibility that the driver fell asleep or intentionally speeded. We will investigate the cause of the accident,” Anjum said, adding that many of the bodies are unrecognizable and require DNA testing to confirm. identity identification.
The scene of a bus accident in Balochistan, Pakistan, in 2021. Photo: Al Arabia.
Poorly maintained highways, lax safety regulations and reckless drivers are the reasons why Pakistan has recorded many road accidents. Passenger cars in this country are often crammed with too many people and do not have safety equipment, causing accidents that often kill many victims.
The World Health Organization estimates more than 27,000 people died in road accidents in Pakistan in 2018.
Vu Anh (Theo AFP)