Three people, including a student, were killed and 37 others injured Friday evening after a rural transport vehicle overturned on a mountainous road near the town of Oulmes in Morocco’s Khemisset province, local authorities said.
The accident occurred on an unclassified road linking the Tarmilat area with the village of Zkit in the commune of Oulmes, according to local sources. The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle on a dangerous stretch known for its sharp bends and difficult terrain, causing it to overturn and fall down a slope.
The victims included several school students from nearby educational institutions.
Emergency responders, including civil protection teams, motorcycle patrol units and members of the Royal Gendarmerie, transported the injured to the provincial hospital in Khemisset for treatment. Authorities said five people suffered serious injuries, while 32 others sustained minor wounds.
The Royal Gendarmerie has opened an investigation under the supervision of the public prosecutor’s office to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Preliminary information indicated that the vehicle, used for shared rural transport, was carrying more passengers than its legal capacity, most of them students.
The governor of Khemisset province visited the hospital following the accident to check on the condition of the injured and instructed medical staff to provide all necessary care, particularly for critical cases.
The tragedy has renewed debate over the condition of mountainous rural roads in the province and the widespread use of shared transport vehicles for schoolchildren in conditions that critics say fail to meet basic road safety standards.
Residents of nearby villages voiced frustration over the deteriorating state of the road connecting Tarmilat and Zkit, calling for urgent upgrades and official classification of the route to reduce the risks posed by its hazardous curves.
Parents of students also renewed calls for dedicated and safer school transportation services instead of overcrowded rural transport vehicles commonly used in remote areas.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.