In a tragic incident on Sunday, at least 16 people were killed and two others injured when a passenger bus plummeted down a mountainous slope in Lahij province, southern Yemen, local sources and residents reported.
The bus, which was travelling the route connecting Aden to Taiz, met with disaster in Al-Muqatra district of Lahij.
According to eyewitness accounts, the bus overturned on a highway that runs along a rocky area in Al-Muqatra after suffering a mechanical failure, causing the driver to lose control.
The Associated Press noted that the bus was carrying 14 passengers, with only one surviving the crash and subsequently transported to a hospital for treatment.
This road, known for passing through steep mountains, is considered one of the most dangerous in Yemen.
It frequently witnesses accidents due to poor maintenance, lack of safety barriers, and heavy trucks being rerouted through it despite being unsuitable for such vehicles.
Traffic accidents claim thousands of lives annually in Yemen, with most incidents attributed to speeding, poor road conditions, or inadequate enforcement of traffic laws.
Observers have highlighted that the accident reiterates the significant risks associated with using the rugged mountain passes, particularly amidst the ongoing conflict that has plagued the country for a decade.
