EDIS Number: VI-20140722-44625-TUR
Date / time: 22/07/2014 08:31:51 [UTC]
Event: Vehicle Accident
Area: Asia
Country: Turkey
State/County: Province of Diyarbakir
Location: [Diyarbakir-Bingol highway]
Number of Deads: N/A
Number of Injured: 66 person(s)
Number of Infected: N/A
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: N/A
Description:
At least 66 people have been injured after a gas truck tilted over on Turkey's southeastern Diyarbakir-Bingol highway late on Monday. Leaking gas caused an explosion after the accident which set two buses and several passing vehicles on fire, according to initial reports. A military helicopter and ambulances were immediately dispatched to the scene. The injured, many suffering from severe burns were taken to hospitals in Diyarbakir, Bingol and Sanliurfa provinces for medical treatment. Haluk Doster, a witness at the scene, told Anadolu Agency that he was among those who arrived the accident scene first. "I saw four cars smoldering. All of the injured were nearly naked as they were being burnt and running away in different directions," said Doster, describing the scene as an "inferno". Meanwhile, officials temporarily closed the highway to traffic and launched an investigation into the incident.
