At least 35 people, including members of Syria’s security forces, were killed and 30 others injured in a collision involving two buses on Saturday, according to Syria’s health ministry. The crash took place on the highway connecting Damascus and Deir al-Zour in central Syria.

One of the buses was reportedly carrying personnel from the Internal Security Forces, the Syrian Interior Ministry said in a social media post, expressing deep sorrow over the incident. The health ministry noted that the injuries sustained varied from moderate to critical and announced that hospitals, health directorates, and blood banks in the provinces of Homs and Rural Damascus had been placed on the highest state of readiness to manage the emergency.

President Ahmed al-Sharaa extended his condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery for those injured. He also stated that all necessary resources had been mobilized to deal with the aftermath of the crash and to support the affected families.

The Syria Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, reported that its teams had controlled a fire that ignited following the collision. Visuals shared by the group showed fire trucks at the scene, with rescuers working to extinguish the blaze and provide first aid to survivors. The buses involved appeared severely damaged, with one bus charred by fire and the other showing significant structural damage, including seats scattered along the roadside. The civil defense also assisted the ministry of defense in evacuating the injured to nearby medical facilities while recovering bodies from the site.

Authorities have not disclosed the cause of the crash or whether an official investigation will be conducted. Road accidents remain a frequent hazard in Syria, attributed to factors such as deteriorated infrastructure, damaged roads, poor lighting, speeding, and risky overtaking maneuvers. Prolonged conflict has further damaged the country’s transportation network, and economic difficulties have led to continued reliance on aging vehicles with limited maintenance.

The civil defense noted that the bus collision was among 19 traffic accidents reported across Syria on Friday, which resulted in three fatalities and seven injuries, highlighting persistent road safety challenges in the country.