Two Congolese students die in fatal head-on collision accident in north Cyprus highway, six injured

A fatal head-on collision on the İskele–Ercan Highway near Gönendere has left two people dead and six others injured, according to police reports.

The accident occurred at around 2:45 p.m. on Friday September 12, 2025, when a vehicle driven by Merve Avcı (31), traveling toward Ercan, crossed into the opposite lane due to alleged driver inattention. 

Her car, collided head-on with another vehicle, driven by a Congolese student.

The impact proved fatal for the student and his passenger, who is also a Congolese national, who both died at the scene of the crash.

The deceased were identified as Congolese nationals, Glody Malekera Bachibone (24), the driver of the vehicle, and his passenger Lydia Cırımwanı Binja (21).

Several others sustained serious injuries in the same vehicle among whom are: Euphrosine Zahabu Kitenge (22) was critically injured and remains under observation at the Surgical Unit of Gazimağusa State Hospital, Plamedi Bisoka Bachunge (22) is being treated in intensive care at Lefkoşa Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital and Maroyi Christ Vie Bisoka (21) is under medical observation at the hospital’s emergency unit.

In the other vehicle, driven by Merve Avcı, the driver was hospitalized and remains under treatment at the emergency ward. Her two children, who were passengers, are being treated at the Pediatric Surgery Department.

Authorities also issued a correction, clarifying that in earlier reports, the deceased were mistakenly identified as Mwamba Salem Kitoka and Safi Divene Mavuba. Police confirmed that this was an error and apologized for the incorrect information.

The investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing.