At least eight individuals lost their lives in a tragic incident where a bus veered off the road in a popular vacation destination. The bus careened into a ravine within Antalya province in southern Turkey on Sunday.

Footage broadcasted by state channel TRT revealed the bus lying on its side on an embankment along a highway slip road in Dosemealti, a district located northwest of Antalya city center. According to Provincial Governor Hulusi Sahin, 26 people sustained injuries, with some in critical condition. The DHA news agency mentioned that several passengers were ejected from the bus, which had journeyed overnight from Tekirdag in the northwest of Turkey.

Antalya, known for its appeal to tourists on the Mediterranean coast, experienced heavy rainfall in recent days. Governor Sahin informed TRT that the wet ground and foggy conditions made for an unsafe environment, emphasizing that speeding was not advisable. It is believed that the driver lost control due to dense fog and slippery roads while approaching a complex intersection.

The vehicle crashed through roadside barriers and descended into the ravine, leading to a large-scale rescue operation. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc disclosed the initiation of a judicial inquiry into the accident, with one deputy chief prosecutor and two public prosecutors assigned to investigate the circumstances.