Local media reported a significant increase in traffic accidents involving camels in the Sultanate of Oman.

In the Governorate of Dhofar, stray camels caused more accidents and injuries than ever before, according to data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The number of accidents involving stray camels rose to 20 in Dhofar governorate alone, an increase of 17 per cent in 2021 compared to 2020.

According to the NCSI data, there were 11 deaths involving stray camels in 2021 and 45 cases of injuries.

Meanwhile, more than 53 per cent of road traffic accidents in 2021 were caused by speeding and over 20 children under the age of 7 years were victims of these accidents.

Traffic accidents in the Sultanate during 2021 caused the death of 24 children under the age of 7 years, at a rate of two children every month, according to the traffic system report published by the NCSI.

According to the report, 84 children under the age of 7 were injured in traffic accidents last year, constituting 5.3 per cent of the total traffic accident victims in 2021.

Furthermore, more than half of those who died in traffic accidents - 221 people - belonged to the 26 to 50 age group.