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Refugee bus crash kills 8 in western Turkey

Xinhua, January 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

Eight people were killed and 42 others injured Friday when a bus carrying illegal refugees overturned in western Turkey, private Dogan news agency reported.

The traffic accident occurred in Hayran town of the province of Balikesir early Friday, killing the driver of the bus and seven refugees on the scene, said the report, adding that the injured including seven in critical conditions were sent to three close-by hospitals for treatment.

The bus was carrying illegal refugees wanting to go to the Greek island of Lesbos, according to the report.

Police has launched an investigation into the accident, the report said.

More than 3,000 refugees fleeing war-torn Syria lost their lives on the way to Greek islands via Turkey, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Over 600,000 refugees have reportedly reached Greek islands in 2015, in a crisis that has alarmed the European Union (EU).

The EU and Turkish leaders reached a deal in November for curbing the refugee influx from the Middle East to Europe. Endit