The accident occurred on the Tatvan-Bitlis Highway near Reşadiye village, the local sources said.

Ambulances, police and fire crews were dispatched to the scene after the accident had been reported to the officials.

The survivors have been taken to hospitals in Tatvan and Bitlis.

The road, which was blocked due to the collusion, has been reopened after vehicles involved in the crash were pulled over.

Turkey loses about 10 000 lives every year due to road traffic crashes. It has a road traffic fatality rate of 13 deaths per 100 000 population.

The majority (55%) of those killed are drivers and passengers of four-wheelers though pedestrians also constitute a significant proportion (19%) of these fatalities. (ILKHA)