Investigators check the site of a minibus accident in the Erdemli district of Türkiye's southern province of Mersin, on Oct. 7, 2025. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)
ANKARA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed and 14 others injured when a minibus carrying agricultural workers overturned in the Erdemli district of Türkiye's southern province of Mersin on Tuesday, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported.
The minibus was heading toward the district center when the driver reportedly lost control of the steering wheel, causing the vehicle to plunge about 10 meters into a roadside ditch.
Emergency services, including firefighters, medical teams, and gendarmerie units, were dispatched to the scene following calls from witnesses. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Investigations on the cause of the accident were underway, the report said.
Traffic accidents have claimed 2,713 lives across Türkiye in 2024, according to the General Directorate of Security. The highest number of accidents occurred in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, with Istanbul alone recording 97,354 incidents.
Speeding was the leading cause of fatal crashes in Türkiye last year. ■
An investigator checks the site of a minibus accident in the Erdemli district of Türkiye's southern province of Mersin, on Oct. 7, 2025. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)