Eight killed, more than 20 injured in bus collision on Damascus-Deir ez-Zor highway

DAMASCUS, Syria — Two buses collided on the highway between the Syrian capital, Damascus, and the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor, killing eight people and injuring more than 20, according to initial reports. One of the buses caught fire and was completely burned after the crash. Syria's Civil Defense, known as the White Helmets, dispatched teams from its center in Palmyra (Tedmur) to the scene after receiving notification of the accident, with additional support sent from its Deir ez-Zor operations. The two routes are the main overland link between central and eastern Syria and have been the site of repeated traffic accidents. A correspondent reporting from Palmyra said most of the passengers were from Deir ez-Zor, while the identity of the second bus involved in the collision had not yet been determined. The highway is known for poor infrastructure and frequent speeding by drivers, conditions that have contributed to a series of similar crashes along the route. Search and recovery operations were continuing at the site. No further details on the victims or the cause of the collision were immediately available.