Nine killed and 73 injured as bus overturns in Sharjah's Khor Fakkan area

Police said the vehicle transporting 83 workers suffered a brake failure

Sharjah Police responded to a fatal bus crash in Khor Fakkan on Sunday. Picture is for illustrative purposes only. Photo: Sharjah Media Office

Nine people were killed and another 73 injured in a bus crash in the Khor Fakkan area of Sharjah on Sunday evening, police confirmed.

Sharjah Police said the bus, which was transporting 83 workers, overturned near the Wadi Washi roundabout at the entrance to the enclave after its brakes failed.

Emergency crews, including teams from Sharjah Police, civil defence and emergency medical services, were sent to the crash site.

The injured were given first aid at the scene before being taken to nearby hospitals for further medical care.

“A report of the accident was made to the operations room. The workers were of various Asian and Arab nationalities,” said Brig Gen Dr Ali Al Kay Al Hammoudi, director of the Eastern Region Police Department.

“Initial investigations indicate that the accident was caused by brake failure,” he said.

This led the driver to lose control of the vehicle as it approached a right-hand exit at the city's entrance, police said.

The injuries sustained by the workers ranged from severe to moderate and minor.

Sharjah Police stressed the need for drivers to carry out regular maintenance of their vehicles and to exercise caution on curved roads and intersections.

Police also called on motorists to strictly follow speed limits, especially in tunnels, and to drive with due care and attention.