Bus Catches Fire After Rear-Ending Truck on Iraq Highway, Killing More Than 20

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A bus collided with a truck on an international highway in Dhi Qar province on Saturday, killing more than 20 people and injuring at least 17 others, officials said. The bus caught fire after rear-ending the truck. The provincial traffic director said the bus driver fell asleep, causing the collision. The vehicle then lost control and struck a security barrier before igniting. Zikar Governor Hesham al-Hamdani said Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered DNA tests expedited and the burned remains transferred to Baghdad. Police and medical teams from Suk al-Shuyukh responded to the scene. Basra officials confirmed the death toll exceeded 20, with identification procedures ongoing. Families have called for faster processing to release the remains.