Türkiye: Minibus en route to hazelnut harvest crashes leaving 3 dead, 18 injured

Three people have died and 18 others have been injured, four of them seriously, after a minibus carrying agricultural workers veered off the road and tumbled down a cliff in Türkiye's central Sivas province.

The incident occurred at around 04:55 local time near the Geminbeli Pass in the Şarköy area of Suşehri district, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

The vehicle, reportedly travelling from Şanlıurfa to Ordu to transport seasonal workers for the hazelnut harvest, lost control and fell into a ravine.

Emergency services, including paramedics, firefighters, gendarmerie and disaster response teams, were dispatched to the scene.

The injured were taken to hospitals in the nearby Suşehri and Zara districts. Authorities confirmed that four of the casualties are in critical condition.

An investigation into the cause of the crash has been launched.

In a statement, the Sivas Governor’s Office offered condolences to the families of those who died and wished a swift recovery to the injured. "We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery," the statement read.

By Aghakazim Guliyev