At least 71 people have died in a tragic road accident in Herat province, Afghanistan. Among the victims are at least 17 children and teenagers. On Tuesday evening (August 19), a devastating explosion occurred in the city of Guzara following a collision between a passenger bus, a fuel truck, and a motorcycle.
Abdullah Muttaki, a spokesperson for the provincial government, confirmed that all the passengers involved in the accident were Afghan citizens. Provincial police officer Mohammad Yusuf Saeedi stated that the bus, traveling from Iran to Kabul, was moving at high speed. Due to reckless driving, it first collided with a motorcycle. Shortly afterward, the bus struck a fuel-laden truck, triggering a fire. Many passengers were burned to death in the ensuing explosion.
He added that aside from four individuals—including the motorcycle and truck drivers and an assistant—the remaining victims were passengers on the bus. Only three people were rescued alive.
The bus passengers had been living in Iran as refugees. They were being repatriated following a recent government operation. Since the beginning of this year, more than one million Afghan citizens have reportedly been sent back from Iran.
Road accidents have become almost a daily occurrence in Afghanistan. Poor road conditions, mountainous terrain, and reckless driving are major causes of such disasters. In December last year, at least 52 people lost their lives in another deadly road accident in the country.
Source: Al Jazeera.