A devastating traffic accident caused by reckless driving and driving under the influence occurred in Basra Governorate early this morning, leaving 10 Iranian pilgrims dead and 12 others injured.

Details of the Incident in al-Haritha District

At approximately 3:00 AM on Thursday, July 16, the driver of a Chevrolet Tahoe lost control of the vehicle on the main road in al-Haritha district, northeast of Basra, crashing into a crowd of Iranian pilgrims.

The victims were traveling on foot toward the holy city of Karbala to participate in the Arbaeen (Fortieth Day) pilgrimage.

Death Toll and Casualties

According to security sources, 10 pilgrims died at the scene of the crash.

An additional 12 individuals sustained injuries, some of whom are in critical condition, and were rushed to nearby hospitals for emergency medical treatment and observation.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the driver of the SUV was heavily intoxicated, which led to the loss of vehicle control and the subsequent fatal crash.

Following the incident, the Basra Traffic Directorate temporarily closed the main road in al-Haritha to allow emergency services to evacuate the victims and transport the injured, while security forces completed their on-site investigation.