World

Twenty-one killed, 20 injured in Iraq bus crash

By AAP Newswire

Jun 9, 2026

An Iraqi flag waves near a highway — Twenty people have been killed in a bus crash in southern Iraq. -AP

At least 21 people are dead after a passenger bus crashed and burst into flames in southern Iraq.

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Fourteen of the bodies were burned beyond recognition and have not been identified, said Ahmad Saleem, spokesperson for the Thi Qar provincial council.

Two Iranian nationals are believed to be among the dead, though their bodies have not yet been identified, he said.

The bus was travelling from the city of Najaf - which is holy to Shiite Muslims and a frequent destination for pilgrims - to the southern port city of Basra in Thi Qar province, Saleem said.

In addition to those killed, another 20 people were injured. The injured included two Iranians who were evacuated to Iran on Monday through the Iranian Consulate in Basra, the official said.

Saleem attributed the crash to the road's poor condition, noting local authorities had previously flagged it as a safety concern.

He added a severe shortage of ambulances in the province had hampered the response to the crash.

Road accidents are common in Iraq, where decades of conflict, corruption and underinvestment have left much of the country's infrastructure in disrepair.