A total of 37 people, including IDF soldiers, have been injured in three different bus crashes across southern Israel, Magen David Adom said on Thursday morning.
According to the IDF, a bus carrying soldiers to base overturned on the side of Highway 40 near Mitzpe Ramon. The IDF said it is currently investigating the cause of the accident.
"One of the front tires blew out," an IDF doctor at the scene shared with The Jerusalem Post.
MDA reported that 21 soldiers had been injured. Two were medevaced to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba in moderate condition, and another 19 were evacuated to the same hospital in mild condition.
Highway 40 has been closed in both directions as a result of the accident, Israel Police said, urging drivers to take alternate routes.
Eleven others injured near Nevatim Junction
In a separate incident, 11 people were injured during a collision between a bus and a car on Highway 25 near the Nevatim Junction in southern Israel, MDA said in a morning statement.
The IDF later added that several of those injured were soldiers.
Israel's Fire and Rescue Authority added that firefighters from Beersheba also responded to the incident and rescued an individual from the car.
Out of those injured, a 29-year-old woman is in moderate condition, and the 10 others were all lightly injured.
All were evacuated to Soroka in Beersheba for further treatment, MDA said.
Five injured in collision between bus, truck
In a third accident, MDA said that five people were injured in a collision between a truck and a bus near Moshav Ruhama.
A 24-year-old is in moderate condition, and the four others are in light condition.
MDA personnel are evacuating them to Soroka and Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon.
James Genn contributed to this report.