A devastating road accident on the Herat–Islam Qala highway has claimed the lives of at least 76 Afghan migrants returning from Iran, including 17 children. The incident is being described as one of the deadliest traffic disasters in Afghanistan in recent years.
The crash occurred in Guzara district on the Herat ring road, when a passenger bus carrying returnees collided with a cargo truck and a motorcycle. The collision sparked a massive fire that quickly engulfed the bus, trapping many passengers inside.
Local officials confirmed that three people were injured, while most of the victims were burned beyond recognition. Witnesses said the blaze spread so rapidly that passengers had little chance to escape. Rescue teams struggled to recover the remains as the vehicle was consumed by flames within minutes.
According to Taliban-controlled Radio Television Afghanistan, the majority of the passengers were migrants who had just crossed back from Iran, hoping to restart their lives in Afghanistan.
This tragedy follows a series of deadly road accidents across the country. Last year, more than 60 people were killed in two separate crashes on the Kandahar highway, underscoring Afghanistan’s ongoing road safety crisis.
Experts and humanitarian organizations continue to warn that poor infrastructure, unsafe and overcrowded vehicles, and lack of effective traffic enforcement are fueling the high rate of fatal accidents. The Herat disaster has reignited calls for urgent reforms to improve road safety and prevent further loss of life on Afghanistan’s highways.
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