'Obstructed visibility'

Basra traffic collision kills child, injures mother

BASRA — A 10-year-old child was killed and his mother sustained serious injuries in a traffic collision in the Al-Sahafiyin neighborhood of Zubair, Basra, a local source told 964media on Sunday.

The crash involved a three-wheeler carrying the victims and a large truck. According to the source, the accident was caused by a wall constructed by a company affiliated with a local sewage station. The wall reportedly obstructs visibility at an intersection of four main streets, including Al-Shuhada Street, Al-Sahafiyin, and the road leading to Khor Al-Zubair.

“The wall obstructs the view of drivers coming from the right toward Al-Sahafiyin, preventing them from seeing oncoming vehicles,” the source added.

Traffic fatalities remain a major concern in Iraq. In 2023, the country—excluding the Kurdistan Region—recorded 11,552 traffic accidents that resulted in 3,019 fatalities and 12,314 injuries. That figure represents a slight increase from 2022, when there were 11,523 accidents and 3,021 deaths. Driver error accounted for approximately 79% of these incidents, with vehicle-related issues and poor road conditions contributing to the remainder.