Tragedy on the Herat-Kabul Highway: 79 Lives Lost in Fiery Bus Crash

 

A devastating bus collision in western Afghanistan has claimed the lives of at least 79 people, including 17 children, in what officials are calling one of the deadliest road accidents in recent years.

The crash occurred late Tuesday night on the Herat-Kabul highway, involving an overcrowded passenger bus, a motorcycle, and a fuel truck. The bus was transporting Afghan refugees recently expelled from Iran, part of a growing wave of returnees facing dire conditions back home.

According to Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, the collision triggered a massive fire that engulfed the bus, leaving many victims burned beyond recognition. Only three passengers were rescued, all of whom suffered severe burns.

Witnesses described scenes of horror and helplessness. “There was a lot of screaming, but we couldn’t even get within 50 metres to rescue anyone,” said Akbar Tawakoli, a local resident.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, which highlights the ongoing dangers of Afghanistan’s poorly maintained roads and lack of traffic regulation. Herat province, bordering Iran and Turkmenistan, has seen a surge in migrant returns, further straining local infrastructure.

This tragedy adds to a grim pattern of fatal road incidents in Afghanistan, where decades of conflict have left transportation systems in disrepair. The government has pledged to identify those responsible and improve safety measures.