31.05.2026 13:10
A passenger bus accident occurred on the Denizli-Aydın Highway in Sarayköy district early in the morning, resulting in 8 deaths and 33 injuries, turning into a scene of chaos. After the fire, only the iron skeleton remained of the bus, which was reduced to ashes.
In the Denizli-Aydın Highway, a passenger bus accident occurred towards dawn, resulting in 8 deaths and 33 injuries. The bus was reduced to ashes due to the fire.
PROCEEDED BY CROSSING 125 METERS OF BARRIERS
According to the information obtained, the accident took place around 01:40 at night near the Tırkaz neighborhood of Sarayköy district on the Denizli-Aydın Highway. The passenger bus with license plate 45 BAH 834, belonging to Pamukkale Tourism and operated by Mustafa Fevzi Merdun on the İzmir-Antalya route, went out of control after the driver lost control of the steering wheel and crashed into the metal barriers on the roadside. The bus, which advanced by crossing 125 meters of barriers, had its front part shattered, and a fire suddenly broke out in the vehicle for an undetermined reason. As the flames quickly grew and engulfed the entire bus, the 38 passengers and 3 crew members inside experienced a life-and-death struggle. The fire was brought under control and extinguished after intensive intervention by numerous firefighting teams dispatched to the area.
SOME PASSENGERS DIED TRAPPED
Meanwhile, it was determined that during the accident and after the fire started, some passengers lost their lives due to being trapped in the door gaps amid the chaos on the bus. Gendarmerie teams searched the grassy and bushy areas along the highway in case there were other dead or injured individuals. It was noted that the investigation into the accident continues.
THE EXTENT OF THE HORROR REVEALED AT DAWN
The magnitude of the disaster experienced at night became visible during the scene investigation with the first light of morning. It was observed that the flames completely melted and destroyed the bus's roof, side panels, and interior components, leaving only bare iron frames from the passenger seats. It was also noted that due to the impact, the barriers pierced the bus's front hood, and the engine and running gear were completely burned to charcoal black.
ROAD CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FOR 5 HOURS
After the public prosecutor and scene investigation teams completed their work, the bus's wreckage, reduced to a pile of iron, was removed from the highway with the help of a crane. The highway, which was closed to traffic in the direction of Denizli for approximately 5 hours due to the accident, was reopened after the burned bus was removed.
IDENTITIES OF THE DECEASED CONFIRMED
According to initial assessments, it was determined that those who lost their lives in the accident were the 50-year-old captain driver Mustafa Fevzi Mertun, Merve Erik, Hayriye Arıkan, Civan Şen, Şen's 9-month-old son Eyüp Miraç Şen, Zehra Eyiol, Fatma Kartal, and Kyrgyz national Gültilay Bığa.
The investigation into the accident continues.