Afghan migrants die in car crash in Turkey

On 29 March, a minibus carrying dozens of migrants from southern Asia crashed into a light pole in eastern Turkey, resulting in the death of 17 of those on board and injuring 36.

According to officials from Igdir province, the accident occurred on the Igdir-Kars highway. Seconds after smashing into the light pole the minibus burst into flames. The migrants were mainly from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran.

Taner Basaran, the deputy provincial health director, told Turkish Anadolu Agency that although there was only room for 14 passengers in the minibus, 50 migrants were squeezed into the vehicle.

A second minibus, also carrying undocumented migrants, and travelling together with the first minibus was stopped by Turkish security forces after the accident.

According to the governor of Igdir province, Enver Unlu, the second minibus hit some of the migrants who were thrown from the first vehicle as it hit the light pole.

In related news, a day after the accident Turkish police detained 692 undocumented migrants across the eastern parts of the country.

A source told Anadolu Agency that more than 450 irregular migrants were arrested in eastern Erzurum province alone. Most of those detained are from Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to the same source, the detained migrants will be transferred to Askale Repatriation Center before being deported.

In eastern Van province, 154 irregular migrants were held, also mainly from Afghanistan and Pakistan, while migrants were also detained in eastern Kars province and northeastern Edirne province.

Photo credit: Anadolu Agency
Caption: The minibus carrying migrants smashed into a light pole in Igdir province, Turkey