At least 12 folks have been killed and 31 others injured - together with three severely - in a multi-vehicle crash in southern Turkey, officers stated.

The incident occurred on Saturday night in Hatay province - one of many areas worst hit by an earthquake earlier this 12 months.

The pile-up occurred when a truck driver misplaced management on the Iskenderun-Antakya freeway, crossing over into the alternative carriageway.

The truck collided with 9 automobiles and two minibuses, the state-run Anadolu information company reported.

Many of the autos have been parked on the roadside close to a petroleum station as buddies and relations stated goodbye to males leaving to hold out necessary army service.

The non-public Demiroren information company stated the truck was carrying excavated earthquake rubble and hit one other truck earlier than crossing the freeway at round 7pm native time (5pm UK time).

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca stated fires broke out, and tweeted that 22 ambulances and three medical rescue groups have been despatched to the scene in Topbogazli.

"May God have mercy on our citizens who lost their lives, I express my condolences to their relatives," he stated. "We will do our best to ensure that the injured regain their health as soon as possible."

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Witness Ali Sarrac stated a few of these killed had burned to loss of life, Anadolu reported.

Images confirmed burning autos as emergency groups tried to maintain folks away from the blaze.

Hatay - which is close to the Syrian border - was one of many worst hit of the 11 Turkish provinces affected by an earthquake that devastated elements of Turkey and Syria on 6 February.

The catastrophe is the worst in Turkey's fashionable historical past with a loss of life toll of at the least 50,783, in accordance with the nation's authorities.

Content Source: information.sky.com