At least 20 people were killed and 11 were injured after a midibus veered off a cliff in the town of Marmaris, located in Turkey's southwestern province of Mugla, on Saturday, a local governor said.
The midibus, which was carrying local tourists and was travelling from the city of Izmir to Marmaris, tipped over at a road bend and then rolled off a steep cliff on the Muğla-Antalya highway. The road on the side off a cliff was closed for traffic causing huge congestion.
Governor of Mugla province Amir Cicek said that the brakes of the bus "may have malfunctioned" and that an investigation was underway to ascertain the cause of the accident, Reuters reported citing NTV television.
Rescue teams and personnel from the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) were rushed to the site of the accident.
Marmaris Mayor Ali Acar indicated that the bus could have met with the accident due to an "error by the driver," Reuters reported citing the Hurriyet newspaper. However, Acar did not give further details on the matter.
The agency quoted ither media outlets as saying that the bus was carrying only women and children from Izmir to the popular holiday destination of Marmaris on a trip for Mothers' Day, which would be celebrated in Turkey on Sunday.
