Children among 16 killed in car crash in southern Yemen
On Tue, Feb 24, 2026, a collision between a bus and a truck in the Lahmar area of the Al-Mahfad district, southern Yemen, resulted in the fatalities of at least 16 individuals, including eight women and children, according to local authorities. This…
At least 16 people, including eight women and children, were killed on Tuesday in a collision between a bus and a truck in southern Yemen, local authorities reported. The accident occurred in the Lahmar area of the Al-Mahfad district, a key transit route linking the provinces of Abyan and Shabwa. Security officials said the crash resulted from improper overtaking on a dangerous bend in the road, while the bus’s use of gas as fuel caused an immediate fire that engulfed the vehicle, leaving no survivors among its passengers.
The impact of the two vehicles triggered a catastrophic blaze that consumed the small bus, according to Anadolu news agency. The fire’s intensity was such that all occupants perished, leaving authorities with no survivors to account for the incident. The collision has been described as the second-deadliest traffic accident in Yemen in recent years and the most severe in 2026.
Last year, 17 people were killed in a separate horrific crash on a dangerous mountain road in Abyan province. That incident underscores the persistent dangers posed by Yemen’s road networks, which have been further compromised by years of conflict. The ongoing violence between government forces and Houthi rebels, which began in 2014 after the Houthis seized much of the country, including the capital Sanaa, has left infrastructure severely neglected.
At least 16 people, including eight women and children, were killed on Tuesday in a collision between a bus and a truck in southern Yemen, local authorities reported.
Local observers cite multiple contributing factors to the high fatality rates in road accidents, including the country’s rugged terrain, which creates naturally hazardous conditions for travel. Neglected road infrastructure, exacerbated by prolonged conflict, has worsened the risks associated with travel in the region. The Al-Mahfad district’s role as a transit route between Abyan and Shabwa highlights the vulnerability of such corridors, where even minor errors can lead to devastating consequences.
The bus involved in Tuesday’s crash was reportedly using gas as fuel, which officials said contributed to the immediate ignition of the fire. Security statements emphasized that improper overtaking on a hazardous bend was the direct cause of the collision, though the full circumstances remain under investigation. With no survivors, authorities have relied on preliminary reports and witness accounts to reconstruct the events leading to the tragedy.
The incident marks the latest in a series of deadly road accidents in Yemen, where challenging terrain and deteriorating infrastructure combine with ongoing conflict to create a perilous environment for travelers. The Al-Mahfad district, despite its importance as a transit route, has become a site of recurring road hazards, reflecting broader systemic issues in the country’s transportation network.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
