A passenger bus crashed into a fence and was completely destroyed by fire in Turkey; there are numerous casualties

A horrific traffic accident involving a passenger bus occurred in the Turkish province of Denizli, resulting in the deaths of eight people, including a nine-month-old infant. Another 33 people sustained injuries of varying severity and were rushed to the hospital. 

This was reported by the AP news agency.

The tragedy occurred at approximately 1:40 a.m. local time. The passenger bus, owned by the well-known travel company Pamukkale, was on a regular route from the city of Izmir to the popular resort town of Antalya. While driving, the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing the bus to crash into a road barrier at high speed, overturn, and burst into flames instantly. The fire completely destroyed the vehicle in a matter of minutes.

At the time of the accident, there were 38 passengers and three crew members on board. Investigators have already identified some of the victims, including the 50-year-old bus driver and the father of the nine-month-old child mentioned above.

It is noted that Saturday was the final day of the major Muslim religious holiday Eid al-Adha (Kurban Bayram). During this holiday period, Turkish roads traditionally see a sharp increase in traffic accidents, as millions of citizens travel en masse to visit relatives or go on vacation. Turkish law enforcement agencies are currently conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact causes and circumstances of this fatal accident.