ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least six people were killed and others severely burned in a car accident on the Kirkuk-Erbil road early Friday, according to Kirkuk’s health directorate.
Pirde police confirmed that the incident involved three cars, resulting in six fatalities and injury. The injured was transported to a hospital in Kirkuk.
Two of the cars involved in the accident were allegedly speeding and racing, according to eye witness, who also submitted videos of the aftermath of the accident to Rudaw.
Saman Yaba, head of the media office at Kirkuk’s health directorate, told Rudaw that those involved in the crash were from Baghdad and Kirkuk, adding that one of the injured was left with burns to 70 percent of their body.
Car accidents are a common occurrence in Iraq where years of war, neglect, and corruption have brutally affected its infrastructure.
Roads are often full of potholes and lack proper illumination, making it hard to see when driving during the night.
Iraq’s health ministry reported that over 4,000 people were killed and thousands more injured in traffic accidents in 2023.
A 2018 World Health Organization (WHO) report highlighted road traffic injuries as the leading cause of death for people aged five to 29 globally, with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region having a traffic fatality rate of 20.7% per 100,000 population in 2016.
Hiwa Hussamadin contributed to this report.
