Three Days of National Mourning in Kurdistan to Honor Victims of Oil Tanker Accident

Following a fatal collision between an oil tanker and a passenger bus in Sanandaj, the governorate of Kurdistan announced three days of national mourning in tribute to the victims of the accident. So far, 18 deaths have been confirmed.

As a result of a collision between an oil tanker and a passenger bus on Doctor Hosseini Boulevard in Sanandaj in the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 20 (July 11), several people were killed and injured. The Kurdistan Governorate Press Center announced three days of national mourning in honor of the victims of this incident.

According to Mehr News Agency, Homan Ghassari, one of two bus drivers who survived the accident, said the tanker collision occurred when the bus had stopped behind a pickup truck to pick up passengers, which caused both the tanker and the bus to catch fire simultaneously.

Death Toll of at Least 13

Saleh Zandi, the operations deputy of Sanandaj Fire Department, reported to Mehr News Agency that 13 bodies were handed over to emergency services, with 12 belonging to the bus and one to the tanker.

According to him, two Paykan pickup trucks and another unidentifiable vehicle were also victims of the accident. He stated that the tanker was carrying 18,000 liters of fuel, and in this accident, the bus driver and conductor survived.

“Clashes with Authorities”

On social networks, in unconfirmed reports, it was claimed that the tanker belonged to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its fuel was “smuggled oil from Kirkuk, Iraq.” Video footage was also shared on these networks showing two vehicles that reportedly belong to security forces overturned. Apparently, when people saw that the authorities were “acting disrespectfully instead of providing help,” they clashed with them.

Akbar Johari, the general and revolutionary prosecutor of Kurdistan Province, denied the report that the tanker and its driver were from Iraq in an interview with Mizan News Agency. He attributed the accident to the rupture of the brake hose line of the fuel-carrying tanker based on initial reports, while noting that they should wait for the final report from the competent authorities. He also announced the opening of a legal case in this regard and added that the tanker driver and a large number of bus passengers lost their lives.

“Exploitation by a Few Rioters”

Meanwhile, the Jamaran news website’s Telegram channel reported on “the exploitation of the death of fellow citizens by a few rioters.”

The website stated that during this accident, “instigated by fake news, a group of rioters attacked rescue and security forces and obstructed rescue operations.” The website also reported: “A small number of rioters caused serious damage to several government vehicles and targeted rescue and security forces with stones and sticks.”

Source: DW