A multi-vehicle accident in Turkey’s southern Hatay province killed at least 12 people and injured 31 others, including three critically, authorities said.

A truck crossed into opposite lanes after the driver lost control on Saturday night, colliding with nine cars and two minibuses, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

Many of the vehicles were parked on the roadside near a gas station as friends and family said goodbye to the men leaving for their mandatory military service.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said fires broke out on the Iskenderun-Antakya highway. The minister tweeted that 22 ambulances and three rescue medical teams were dispatched to the scene in Topbogazli.

«May God have mercy on our citizens who lost their lives, I express my condolences to their families,» he tweeted. «We will do everything we can to make sure the injured are back to health as soon as possible.»

Hatay was one of the hardest hit of the 11 Turkish provinces hit by the February 6 earthquake that devastated parts of Turkey and Syria. At least 50,783 died in Türkiye, according to the government.

The private news agency Demiroren said the truck was carrying rubble excavated by the quake and hit another truck before crossing the road at around 7 pm local time (1600 GMT).

Witness Ali Sarrac said some of those killed had been burned to death, Anadolu reported. The footage showed vehicles on fire as emergency crews tried to keep people away from the fire.