Death toll from tragic road accident in Afghanistan rises to 76

(Web Desk): The death toll from a devastating traffic accident in Afghanistan’s western Herat province has risen to 76, officials confirmed.

According to provincial government spokesperson Mohammad Yousuf Saeedi, the accident occurred on Tuesday night near the Guzara district, close to Herat city.

The spokesperson reported that a passenger bus, carrying Afghan citizens recently returned from Iran to Kabul, collided with a motorcycle and an oil tanker, triggering a horrific fire. Seventy-six people died on the spot, while three others were seriously injured.

Police officials stated that identifying the victims has been difficult due to severe burns to the bodies. According to the state news agency Bakhtar, this is one of the deadliest road accidents in Afghanistan in recent years.

The United Nations migration agency reports that since the beginning of this year, nearly 1.5 million Afghan nationals have returned from Iran and Pakistan, as both countries have accelerated policies to repatriate long-term Afghan refugees.

Traffic accidents are common in Afghanistan, with major causes including dilapidated roads, reckless driving, and a lack of effective traffic regulations. In December last year, at least 52 people were killed in central Afghanistan in a similar accident involving buses, an oil tanker, and a truck.