At least 11 people were killed in a devastating traffic accident on the Dushanbe-Kulob-Khorog highway in Tajikistan on Thursday morning, according to the country's Interior Ministry.

The fatal crash occurred near the village of Elok in the city of Vahdat, east of the capital, Dushanbe.

According to a statement issued by the Interior Ministry, a truck traveling along the highway suffered a brake failure before crashing into two passenger vehicles. The impact of the collision resulted in multiple fatalities at the scene.

Authorities said the truck driver, one of the drivers of the passenger vehicles, and nine passengers traveling in the two cars lost their lives in the accident, bringing the death toll to 11.

Emergency responders and law enforcement officials were quickly dispatched to the scene following the crash. Senior government officials, including Ramazon Rahimzoda, the head of the State Motor Vehicle Inspectorate, the Vahdat city prosecutor, and other local authorities, arrived at the site to oversee response efforts and assess the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

The Interior Ministry stated that an official investigation has been launched to determine the exact causes of the accident and examine the mechanical failure that reportedly led to the collision.

The Dushanbe-Kulob-Khorog highway is one of Tajikistan's key transportation routes, connecting the capital with several regions of the country. Traffic accidents involving heavy vehicles on mountainous and long-distance roads remain a significant safety concern in the region.

Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims, pending notification of their families. The investigation remains ongoing. (ILKHA)