Crash in Afghanistan: 79 Dead, Including Kids
Bus crash kills 79 Afghans, including 19 children.
A devastating bus crash in northwestern Afghanistan has claimed the lives of at least 79 people, including 19 children, who were returning from Iran, officials confirmed Wednesday. The tragedy unfolded Tuesday night around 8:30 pm in Herat province when a passenger bus collided with a truck and a motorbike, sparking a massive fire that engulfed the vehicles, leaving little chance for escape.
Abdul Mateen Qani, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, reported that only two individuals survived the inferno, both sustaining serious injuries. They are receiving treatment in a local hospital. According to Tolo News, the blaze was so intense that many victims were killed instantly, with the wreckage leaving a grim scene on the highway.
Traffic accidents are a recurring nightmare in Afghanistan, where poorly maintained roads, overloaded vehicles, and reckless driving create deadly conditions. Herat’s rugged terrain and narrow highways exacerbate the risks, with similar incidents claiming countless lives each year.
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The victims were among the nearly 1.8 million Afghans forcibly deported from Iran in recent months, part of a broader wave of expulsions from neighboring countries. Pakistan has sent back 184,459 Afghan migrants, while Turkiye has deported over 5,000 since January. Additionally, nearly 10,000 Afghan prisoners, mostly from Pakistan, have been repatriated. The Taliban has condemned these mass deportations, accusing Iran and Pakistan of targeting Afghans living abroad illegally. The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation estimates that 6 million Afghan refugees remain scattered across the globe, many facing uncertain futures.
Survivors and witnesses described a chaotic scene, with flames spreading rapidly and thick smoke choking the air. Local authorities and emergency responders rushed to the site, but the scale of the tragedy overwhelmed initial efforts. The crash has reignited calls for improved road safety measures and stricter regulations on Afghanistan’s highways.
As families mourn, the nation grapples with the loss of so many lives in a single, preventable disaster. Investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the collision, with early reports pointing to possible driver error or mechanical failure.
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