ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Four people, including three members of a Kurdish family, died in the town of Khanaqin in Iraq’s eastern province of Diyala on Wednesday after their vehicle caught fire following a collision with another car, according to a local official. Jawad Faizullah, mayor of Khanaqin district, told Rudaw that the incident took place between two vehicles, with one of them catching fire. Three members of a Kurdish family, aged between six and 48, and their driver were killed. Another child of the family was severely injured, added Faizullah. “The injured child has been transferred to Baquba Hospital for treatment,” he noted. Sozan Mansour, a Kurdish lawmaker in the Iraqi parliament, who represents Khanaqin, told Rudaw that the driver is a 50-year-old Arab. Car accidents are a common occurrence in Iraq where years of war, neglect, and corruption have left its infrastructure in poor condition. Roads are often full of potholes, going unrepaired for years, and lack proper illumination, making it harder for drivers to see at night. On June 4, the Iraqi ministry of planning announced a ten percent decrease in traffic fatalities in 2024 compared to the previous year. The figures do not include the Kurdistan Region. The ministry reported that it recorded 2,103 fatal accidents in 2024, resulting in 2,719 deaths and injuries to 11,896 others.
