How did 9 people die in a lorry–minibus crash on the Van–Özalp road in Turkey?
Quick answer: Nine people were killed and five injured when a lorry and a passenger minibus collided on the Özalp–Saray road in Van province, eastern Turkey, on Friday 7 November 2026. The road was slick from rain at the time, according to the Van governor, and the death toll was corrected upwards during the evening as the confirmed count arrived.
Key facts
- What: A collision between a lorry (TIR) and a passenger minibus
- Where: The Özalp–Saray road, Özalp district, Van province, eastern Turkey
- When: Friday 7 November 2026, in the evening
- Deaths: 9
- Injured: 5
- Emergency number: 112
- Status: developing — the toll was corrected from 7 dead and 7 injured to 9 dead and 5 injured during the evening
What happened
The crash happened on the evening of Friday 7 November 2026, when a lorry and a passenger minibus collided on the Özalp–Saray road in the Özalp district of Van province. The vehicles were travelling in the same direction when they collided, for reasons that had not yet been established.
Gendarmerie, police, AFAD disaster teams, UMKE medical rescue teams, 112 emergency health crews and fire crews were sent to the scene. The injured were taken to hospital, and the road was closed for a time before traffic was allowed through under control while the emergency services worked.
The casualty figures
Early reports put the toll at seven dead and seven injured. The figure was later corrected to nine dead and five injured. Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi said the first count was nine people killed and five injured, and sent condolences to the families of those who died.
Van Governor Ozan Balcı told the Anadolu Agency that the road was slick from rain when the minibus and the lorry collided, and that work was under way to identify the dead. The identities of the drivers and the registration plates of the vehicles had not yet been established when the first reports were published.
Where it happened
The crash was on the Özalp–Saray road in Özalp district, in Van province in eastern Turkey, near the border with Iran. Özalp is a district town in the east of the province, and the road links it with the neighbouring district of Saray.
In an emergency in Turkey dial 112, the single number for police, ambulance and fire services. See the Turkey live accident page for everything reported there in the last 24 hours.
What happens next
An investigation into the cause of the collision was under way, and the authorities were working to identify the people who died. No cause had been confirmed by the time the corrected toll was published.
We update the Turkey live page as new reports surface; the original outlets linked below will carry the confirmed figures first.
Frequently asked questions
How many people died in the crash in Van?
Nine people died, according to the corrected figures given on the evening of 7 November 2026 by Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi. Earlier reports had put the toll at seven dead.
How many people were injured?
Five people were injured. They were taken to hospital by 112 emergency health crews after the crash.
Where and when did the crash happen?
On the evening of Friday 7 November 2026, on the Özalp–Saray road in Özalp district, Van province, eastern Turkey.
Which vehicles were involved?
A lorry (TIR) and a passenger minibus, which were travelling in the same direction when they collided. The identities of the drivers and the registration plates had not yet been established.
What caused the crash?
The cause had not been confirmed. Van Governor Ozan Balcı said the road was slick from rain at the time of the collision, and an investigation was under way.
In this story
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