Damascus, July 25 (SANA)Syria’sTransport MinisterYarub Badr described Saturday’s deadly bus collision on the Deir Ezzor-Damascus highway as a “painful tragedy,” saying rehabilitation of the route is among the government’s top infrastructure priorities.

Badr extended his condolences to the families of the victims, saying the accident underscored the urgent need to improve road safety and upgrade one of Syria’s main transport corridors.

He said theDeir Ezzor-Damascus road had suffered years of neglect and deteriorating maintenance under the deposed regime before regaining importance with the resumption of passenger and freight traffic. The crash, he said, highlighted the need for investment in safer road infrastructure.

The minister said road safety depends on multiple factors, includinginfrastructure, vehicle condition, compliance with traffic regulations, driver behavior, and transport oversight. He added that authorities would await the findings of the technical investigation before determining the immediate cause of the accident and any corrective measures.

Badr said the ministry had already designated the rehabilitation of the Deir Ezzor-Damascus highway as a priority. He noted that the General Establishment for Road Transport launched a tender last month for the road’srehabilitationand development as part of a broader government plan to improve road safety and modernize Syria’s transport network.

The collision between two passenger buses earlier on Saturday killed 35 people and injured 30 others, according to a preliminary toll. The accident prompted authorities to activate emergency response and ambulance services, dispatch rescue teams to the scene, and place hospitals in the affected provinces on high alert to receive the injured and provide medical treatment.