At least 32 killed in multi-vehicle crash near Damascus, including Iraqis

At least 32 people died Saturday after a fuel tanker crashed into two buses and several other vehicles on a road connecting the Syrian capital to Homs province, state media reported.

At least 32 people died Saturday after a fuel tanker crashed into two buses and several other vehicles on a road connecting the Syrian capital to Homs province, state media reported.

A break failure caused the tanker to crash into 15 vehicles and two large busses carrying several Iraqi passengers, said Interior Minister Mohammad Khaled al-Rahmoun, while inspecting the site of the accident outside Damascus.

Another 77 people were injured in the accident, he added.

Footage aired on state media showed rescue teams deployed around the mangled remains of two cars.

Victims of the crash are believed to include Shiite Iraqi pilgrims visiting holy shrines near the capital.

The most prominent religious place in Syria is the Holy Shrine of Sayyeda Zainab, peace be upon her, in Damascus.