11 killed in traffic accident in southern Algeria

ALGIERS — Eleven people lost their lives on Tuesday in a collision between a transport bus and a semi-trailer in the province of Ouargla in southern Algeria, the National Gendarmerie Department said in a statement.

The collision occurred on the road connecting Hassi Messaoud and El Borma municipalities in Ouargla province, about 800 km south of Algiers.

The bus involved in the crash was transporting workers from nearby oil field companies, as the region is known for its rich natural gas reserves.

One person was also injured in the incident, noted the source.

Authorities attribute over 90 percent of traffic accidents in Algeria to human error, primarily due to violations of traffic laws. Poor road conditions and vehicle defects are contributing factors.

XINHUA