A traffic accident in the Helmand province of southern Afghanistan on Sunday, March 17, 2024 claimed the lives of 21 individuals and inflicted injuries on 38 more.
The fatal collision occurred in the Gerashk district, along the critical highway linking Kandahar, a southern province, and Herat, a western province. The multi-vehicle accident involved a motorcycle, a public bus, and a fuel tanker, leading to a fire outbreak, multiple casualties, and many injuries.
Provincial traffic department officials in Helmand said that the incident started when a motorcycle crashed into a passenger bus. The bus then swerved into the opposite lane, colliding with a fuel tanker. The impact ignited a fierce fire, which led to a high number of casualties. Hzatullah Haqqani, a spokesperson for the Helmand police chief, verified the details and added that an inquiry into the precise causes of the accident is ongoing.
Eleven of the 38 wounded individuals were critically injured and were rushed to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment. The severity of the crash was highlighted by images shared on social media by the provincial information department, featuring burnt and distorted metal debris strewn across the highway, including the crushed cabin of the tanker. Cleanup teams were dispatched to clear the wreckage and aid the investigation process.
This event highlights the persistent issue of traffic safety in Afghanistan, where accidents frequently occur due to subpar road conditions, insufficient signage, and general driver negligence.
In December 2022, another catastrophic road accident occurred in the Salang Pass, where an oil tanker flipped and ignited, resulting in 31 fatalities and numerous burn injuries.
The country’s General Directorate of Traffic Police provides sobering statistics, reporting over 1,600 deaths and 4,000-plus injuries in the past ten months resulting from road traffic accidents. These figures underscore the pressing need for improved road safety protocols and stricter implementation of traffic laws to curb further casualties and injuries.