Six students killed, 14 injured in school accident in Basra, Iraq

BASRA, Iraq — On Tuesday, a tragic incident involving a truck unfolded in Basra, Iraq, resulting in the deaths of six students and leaving at least 14 others injured.

Just days prior to the tragedy, residents of the Al-Hartha area had pleaded for the appointment of traffic personnel near a school situated along a bustling public street, but their appeals went unanswered.

Brigadier General Mekdad Meri, spokesperson for the Interior Ministry and the Security Media Cell, announced that the Basra police had apprehended the driver of a Brad-type truck involved in the accident. The driver allegedly ran over six school students and left 14 others with serious injuries.

Initial investigations suggest that the driver lost control of the vehicle due to brake failure, resulting in the tragic incident during the school’s dismissal hours.

In response to the heartbreaking event, the Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Mosul and its Environs, on behalf of Archbishop Mor Benedict Younan Hinno, along with priests, monks, nuns, and parishioners, extended their heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. They offered prayers for the swift recovery of the injured and called for a Divine Liturgy to honor the souls of the deceased.